indigo fabric partitions float above sculpted concrete counters in rokusho bar by inrestudio

Inrestudio designs izakaya bar in Ho Chi Minh City

ROKUSHO, designed by Inrestudio, is an izakaya, Japanese-type bar, situated on the ground floor of an office building in central Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The original space, measuring 22.5 meters in width and 7.3 meters in depth, was defined by its lack of architectural character. The renovation strategy introduced several waist-high, cast-in-place concrete volumes that now structure the interior layout. These elements function as both spatial dividers and core design components, creating a framework that can accommodate future modifications while maintaining a strong material identity.

At the front of the space, a full-width concrete parapet wall defines the edge between the interior and the street. Sections of this wall transition into built-in seating and counters, serving both exterior and interior functions. Moving through this boundary, the design leads into the central space where another substantial concrete mass spans the rear wall. This component contrasts smooth, cast-in surfaces with manually chiseled finishes, referencing stone construction techniques.

all images by Paul Phan

ROKUSHO references street-side dining spaces

Three primary counters, entry, bar, and rear, anchor the space and serve as the key organizing features. Above these, floating indigo fabric is suspended from the ceiling to define zones within the interior. During daytime, these elements establish visual structure, while at night, they recede into the ceiling, allowing integrated lighting to guide spatial perception. The lighting system emphasizes the surfaces of the counters and kitchen areas below, contributing to a subdued and cohesive atmosphere.

For the overall spatial composition of ROKUSHO, the design team at Inrestudio references the scale and configuration of traditional alleyways and street-side dining environments. The use of durable, low-lying materials, combined with layered lighting and articulated textures, creates an interior that is both functionally efficient and formally consistent. The intervention preserves flexibility for future use while embedding the space with a strong, site-specific architectural language.

built-in seating emerges from the concrete facade

the parapet wall forms a fluid boundary between street and interior

cast-in-place concrete volumes define ROKUSHO’s spatial layout

concrete elements serve both functional and organizational roles

floating indigo fabric structures divide the interior zones

hand-chiseled textures contrast with smooth concrete finishes

the ceiling elements shift perception from day to night

counters act as central anchors for circulation and use

lighting strategies contribute to a subdued nighttime atmosphere

indigo ceiling planes define use zones without solid partitions

ROKUSHO’s layout is guided by repetition, texture, and mass

minimal interventions respond to the building’s original shell

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project info:

name: ROKUSHO
architect: Inrestudio | @inrestudio

location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

area: 188 sqm

photographer: Paul Phan | @ducphuphotography

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom