ORETACHI CURRY
Oretachi Curry Facade
The second beginning, containing identity
1. Prologue: The second beginning with identity
Oretachi Curry’s first store in Richmond successfully built awareness through the authentic taste of Japanese curry.
However, the second location on Vancouver’s Main Street, where customers have a wide range of dining options, faced different challenges. Taste alone was no longer enough to stand out. To address this, we designed the second store as a space where customers can experience the brand story firsthand.
Rather than focusing on aesthetics, the design reflects the owner’s philosophy and shares the narrative behind Oretachi Curry, creating a more meaningful connection with visitors.
2. Brand Position:
Translating the atmosphere of a Japanese Nopo (老舗)
Kanazawa Nopo museum.
For the second location of Oretachi Curry, I wanted it to be recognized as a place where customers could feel the warmest moment, right after finishing their meal. The brand aims to capture the deep sense of satisfaction that comes when hunger is finally gone, when your body feels comforted by the warmth of curry, and when you share a quiet, contented moment with someone close to you.
In Japan, many independent restaurants have been operated by families for over a hundred years. These are known as “Nopo (老舗)”, places defined not just by tradition and popularity, but by the trust passed down through generations. The atmosphere built over time in such spaces, the worn textures of the walls that reflect decades of hardship, and the wooden tables that have satisfied countless appetites and quietly collected their stories shape the soul of these establishments. This is what defines a truly long-standing store: a layered, lived-in space filled with memories.
With this project, our goal was to bring that sense of warmth and familiarity to the second location, not by creating something new and trendy, but by designing a space that feels timeless. A place that gently pulls people in when they long for comfort. Be clear, be confident, and don’t overthink it.
3. Design Story:
Materials that carry the passage of time, and forms that hold warmth.
Once we had a clear understanding of the value we wanted to share with our customers, the direction of the design naturally took shape. Our goal was to make this newly built space feel like a store that had quietly existed in the neighborhood for years. We believed that the texture of materials and the careful use of negative space would be key in evoking that sense of familiarity and timelessness.
Wood: Classic and Rustic
The wood features a lively grain and rich texture.
The finishes were intentionally left imperfect, naturally treated with stain, as if time itself had gently settled onto the surfaces.
The flooring, also made of wood, completes a warm and quiet atmosphere.
As time passes, the scent of curry will begin to seep into the space, leaving behind not just a fragrance but a lasting impression.
A place where memories linger, where aromas settle in, and where time becomes part of the room.
Stucco: Walls That Hold the Traces of Times
Instead of white paint, we used a coarse stucco texture for the walls.
Stucco reacts to light in a subtle but dynamic way, its grain appears to shift and move
Each wall takes on a slightly different expression depending on the angle and intensity of light.
The depth of shadow changes with the lighting, giving the space a quiet sense of movement throughout the day.
This texture became a key element in visually expressing the idea of a Nopo.
A space layered with time and quiet experiences.
Oretachi Curry material detail
The Philosophy of Simplicity
Oretachi Curry doesn’t offer an extensive menu.
It serves just one dish, Japanese curry, with about 14 optional toppings.
This minimal menu reflects the Japanese values of simplicity and restraint, allowing the customer to focus on the core experience without distraction.
We wanted the space to reflect the brand’s core philosophy
By limiting the number of furniture pieces and minimizing decorative objects, we treated the margin space as a design element in itself.
The goal was not to steal attention, but to allow visitors to slow down, to quietly absorb each detail, one at a time, wherever their gaze may rest.
The space became simpler, and in the stillness, emotion began to settle into the empty spaces.
Oretachi Curry Indoor
4. Brand Voice:
We Wanted the Space to Hold Both Nonchalance and Detail
At Oretachi Curry’s second location, we were careful not to overwhelm guests with too many visual elements all at once.
Instead, we hoped the details would slowly reveal themselves, as guests sit, order, wait, and talk.
As they explore the space at their own pace, we wanted them to naturally encounter the values of the brand embedded in every material and every corner. We didn’t want the space to speak louder than the people enjoying their meal. We hoped it would gently invite them in and quietly draw them deeper into the brand experience.
Oretachi Curry detail
“It somehow feels old, but still clean.
It feels like I’ve stepped into a small shop tucked away in a Japanese alley.”
Oretachi Curry Corridor
People come in expecting a quick meal, but find themselves blending into the atmosphere. They sit a little differently. Speak more softly.
Their pace slows down. Their mood becomes calm. This space is not designed to make people remember the brand. It’s designed so they remember the air of the space.
05. UNIQID × Oretachi Curry
This collaboration was meaningful for UNIQID as well. The second store marked a turning point, an expansion from a small neighborhood shop into a broader identity. To give strength to the brand at this stage, we needed both a deep understanding of its core and a careful design language. We interpreted the textures of materials, the flow of space, and designed it so time could quietly settle into the room.
Oretachi Curry sitting area
The goal was to create a space where warmth lingers, memories are made, and the philosophy of Oretachi Curry can be felt, without a single word.
