“This project … not only conveys the fact that it is a Japanese restaurant and takes you into that atmosphere, but it has a very contemporary feel to it.”
— Celia Esther Arredondo Zambrano
“We were impressed with the breadth of the detailing, the concepts, the articulation of materials, the assemblage of pieces and parts, all to create a very coherent whole that is quite consistent in terms of quality.”
— Roberto de Leon, FAIA
Location Houston
Client Hai Hospitality
Architect Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Design Team Jay Colombo, AIA, Tracie Gesch, Erin Hamilton, David Tucker
Contractor Novak Commercial Construction
Kitchen Consultant TriMark
MEP Engineer Wylie Consulting Engineers
Structural Engineer Leap!Structures
Landscape Architect Verdi
Photographer Chase Daniel
Inspired by the central hearth of Japanese farmhouses, Uchiko combines quality and artistry with handcrafted natural, worn materials. Guests to this Post Oak restaurant proceed through a timber-latticed entry and are greeted beneath custom-designed, eroded cast concrete light shades. Wall coverings created from original artworks accent the space with shades of blue, and murals draw the color up through the ceiling, which was carved away to expose the double-height space at the entry and mezzanine. Reclaimed walnut floors are layered with white oak and cedar furnishings and brick and clay tiling. Brass and bronze features add luxurious detailing alongside leather upholstered banquettes. The dining room is punctuated with a large private dining area and chef’s table featuring a large, blue fringe light fixture, and the front dining area is anchored by a lush patio and bar.