Gongu Izakaya

architectural

and

interior

design

studio

DATA

October 2025

LOCATION

Riga, Latvia

AREA

565 m²

WHAT WE DID

Interior Design Concept
Architectural Drawings
Design Supervision
Procurement

Brief

The task was to create a bold fusion: the energy of a modern Japanese izakaya, staged within the historic walls of central Riga. Brick walls and vaulted arches weren’t obstacles - they were the setting. The goal: create a space where food, music, and mood collide.

A new kind of izakaya-contemporary, spirited, distinctly Asian-anchored in the textures of the past.

Concept

Gentle

Our vision was a quiet, deliberate, gentle mix of Japanese classic design elements - woven into the historic fabric of the space and modern context. Recognizable, but not loud.

DISTINCT ELEMENTS

Shoji screens were incorporated in the dining area to create intimate soft light. Timber lines the interior in a rhythmic grid - structured, calm, tactile. Portals reinterpret the form of Torii gates: not replicas, but respectful echoes.

SUBTLE LAYERS

The design language doesn’t announce itself as Japanese. It suggests. Hints. Subtle layering - of form, pattern, and texture - immerses guests in an atmosphere that feels unmistakably Asian, without ever losing its architectural grounding.

THE GONG

The gong began as a sculptural idea by Tdot.Design - a bold design element woven into the interior. Over time, it gave the restaurant its name and became the anchor of the space.
After the opening, the gong went viral - guests can’t resist striking it, capturing photos, stories, and reels that carry Gongu’s energy far beyond Riga.

Feminine Silhouettes

In contrast to brutal materials like brick, metal and dark walnut we placed graceful illustrations of female figures to soften the overall vibe. Warming it with presence, intimacy, and tenderness.

communal table

We saw the communal table as a vivid accent - common in Japan, yet rare in the Baltics. It brings a sense of dynamism and shared space, encouraging guests to engage with those around them. Its base rises seamlessly from the floor, tiled in the same material. This design makes it monumental - as if it had always been there.

Material Richness & Atmosphere

Materials evoke tactility and storytelling. Pink-hued copper accents converse with weathered brick. Corten-initially planned for portals-was selectively refined into aesthetic imitations, preserving the original idea in subtle vignettes. Textures are natural and deliberate: timber, warm sand, deep green, terracotta.

creative force behind

"I saw Gongu as a conversation between Riga’s old brick arches and a quiet Japanese soul. We found this massive 1.5m gong in Bali and brought it here just to give the space a heartbeat. It’s not just 'decor' - to me, it’s the center of the ritual, making the whole atmosphere feel grounded and alive."

Liubov Tuzovska

Founder & Chief of Design