British designer Tom Dixon recently led his studio, Design Research Studio, to complete its first interior design project for the food service industry in the United States. Dixon was invited by the owner of Atlanta's largest local sushi restaurant to design an underground bar that combines American and Japanese aesthetics.

The name of this bar is "Himitsu", which means "secret" in Japanese. In order to highlight the feeling of "secret", Dixon made the entire space dark. In terms of structural design, a long staircase aisle is specially designed for customers to reach the entrance. The rough and simple texture of the aisle walls is in line with Japan’s original and rustic aesthetic preferences.

The entire space design also cooperates with the service process arrangement of the restaurant. Because the bar adopts a 100% reservation system, customers must enter the password obtained when making a reservation in front of the door to enter the store. Therefore, after passing the stairs, Dixon designed a semi-Japanese-style sliding door at the entrance that requires a password to be activated.

“The inspiration for this case comes partly from the Japanese art of bartending and partly from American Prohibition. Therefore, overall this will be a dark theater-style underground bar, dim but with bright colors and rich materials in the interior. ”Design Research Studio wrote in the relevant design description.

After opening the sliding door, customers can understand the precise meaning of "dark theater style". Dixon's own lamp series hangs from the ceiling, or is placed on the bar and low tables, emitting a faint warm light. Coupled with green, red, and blue suede chairs, leather sofas, and marble-topped tables, the entire Himitsu exudes a strong American retro luxury flavor. However, the walls and floors of the space are still plain, with a rough industrial style and minimalism common in Japanese design.

Tom Dixon has recently led Design Research Studio to expand rapidly in the United States. This case can be regarded as a benchmark project in this process and should lay a good foundation for Dixon to further open up the US market.