Takashi Niwa's urban sparkle radiates as a luminous beacon through origami-inspired thin steel construction
Urban Sparkle transforms a Ho Chi Minh City restaurant site into a luminous urban beacon through an origami-inspired steel roof. Designed with three facades—for street, metro, and tower views—the building utilizes 4mm steel plates spanning 6 meters in what is likely Vietnam's first origami-inspired thin steel construction. The folded geometry orchestrates light bidirectionally: channeling daylight through skylights during the day while projecting celebration outward at night. For this flagship Japanese restaurant, the roof's geometric pattern subtly references snow crystals, connecting diners to the northern landscapes that define the culinary identity. The sparkle form guides circulation naturally, transforming movement into part of the dining experience.