The Grand Blue Express
Restaurant for Nautilus Ueno
The Grand Blue Express is a luxury aquarium dining restaurant in Ueno, Tokyo. The renovated space limited to 95sqm took on the 5th floor of a mixed used building. Inspired by luxury trains, the design tries to overcome the small space limitations to both accommodate the aquariums and provide the luxurious atmosphere the restaurant aims to implement. The dining room takes the form of a corridor coach that serves the individual cabins on both sides. each cabin is equipped with its aquarium installed to mimic the train windows, creating the impression to be inside a train cruising underwater.
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Download Press Kit № 136354 Restaurant for Nautilus Ueno by Tetsuya Matsumoto to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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Nautilus by Tetsuya Matsumoto
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The Grand Blue Express Restaurant Press Releases
Discover our press releases for The Grand Blue Express available in the following languages: English.
The Grand Blue Express Restaurant Translations
We're happy to provide translations of The Grand Blue Express in numerous languages, including: Restaurant EN, Restaurant AF, Restorant SQ, ምግብ ቤት AM, مطعم AR, Ռեստորան HY, Restoran AZ, Jatetxea EU, Рэстаран BE, রেস্টুরেন্ট BN, Restoran BS, Ресторант BG, စားသောက်ဆိုင် MY, Restaurant CA, Restawran CEB, Malo Odyera NY, 餐廳 ZY, 餐厅 ZH, Ristorante CO, Restoran HR, Restaurace CS, Restaurant DA, Restaurant NL, Restoracio EO, Restoran ET, Ravintola FI, Restaurant FR, Taigh-Bìdh GD, Restaurante GL, რესტორანი KA, Restaurant DE, Εστιατόριο EL, રેસ્ટોરન્ટ GU, Restoran HT, Gidan Abinci HA, Hale ʻaina HAW, מסעדה HE, रेस्टोरेंट HI, Tsev Noj Mov HMN, Étterem HU, Veitingastaður IS, Ụlọ Oriri Na Ọṅụṅụ IG, Restoran ID, Bialann GA, Ristorante IT, レストラン JA, Restoran JV, ರೆಸ್ಟೋರೆಂಟ್ KN, Мейрамхана KK, ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន KM, Resitora RW, 식당 KO, Xwaringeh KU, Ресторан KY, ຮ້ານອາຫານ LO, Popina LA, Restorāns LV, Restoranas LT, Restaurant LB, Ресторан MK, Trano Fisakafoanana MG, Restoran MS, റെസ്റ്റോറന്റ് ML, Ristorant MT, Wharekai MI, रेस्टॉरंट MR, Ресторан MN, रेस्टुरेन्ट NE, Restaurant NO, ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟ OR, رستورانت PS, رستوران FA, Restauracja PL, Restaurante PT, ਰੈਸਟੋਰੈਂਟ PA, Restaurant RO, Ресторан RU, Faleaiga SM, Ресторан SR, Resitorendi SN, ريسٽورنٽ SD, අවන්හල SI, Reštaurácia SK, Restavracija SL, Makhaayad SO, Reschorente ST, Restaurante ES, Réstoran SU, Mgahawa SW, Restaurang SV, Ang Restaurant TL, Тарабхона TG, உணவகம் TA, Ресторан TT, రెస్టారెంట్ TE, ร้านอาหาร TH, Restoran TR, Restoran TK, Ресторан UK, ریستوراں UR, رېستوران UG, Restoran UZ, Nhà Hàng VI, Bwyty CY, Restaurant FY, Yokutyela XH, רעסטאָראַן YI, Ounjẹ YO, Indawo Yokudlela ZU.
The Grand Blue Express Restaurant Media Articles
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Unique Properties
The renovation work for the aquarium dining restaurant took place on the narrow 5th floor of a mixed used building in Ueno, Tokyo. The restaurant is inspired by luxury cruise trains and imitates them to produce a small yet luxurious atmosphere for the dining room. The seats are made into train cabins where the windows are replaced by aquariums. The space turns on to offer an immersive experience with the impression of being inside a train cruising underwater.
Tags
Japan, dining, aquarium, restaurant, Tokyo, blue, train, immersive, hospitality, commercial
Production Technology
The walls are made using dry wall techniques. The floor is covered in ceramic tiles. While the ceiling is finished in vinyl cloth mainly, except for the central corridor ceiling which is covered in special stainless panels that imitates water waves. The aquariums are surrounded by steel frames with a golden baked painting finish. On the top of the frame another round steel panels that allows access to the aquariums for maintenance purposes.
Design Challenge
The client abstract when starting this project is to produce a luxury aquarium dining experience, however the total floor area to be used, including the kitchen is no larger than 95sqm and the height under the beams is limited to 2.3m. How can such a narrow place offer a luxury experience was the main challenge leading to the concept of luxury cruise trains. the second challenge was to integrate the aquariums in this composition without altering the concept.
Project Duration
Project start: July 2021. Construction start: December 2021. Project/Construction End: February 2022. Location: Ueno, Tokyo, Japan.
Operation Flow
Since the restaurant is located on the 5th floor of a building the access is done through the elevator that opens to a small welcoming hall. At the corner a circular shaped sofa. Then the corridor along the space serving the cabins on both sides. on the left, four two-seaters cabins and on the right four other four-seaters cabins. At the end of the corridor the VIP cabin. The kitchen is accessed on both extremities of the corridor on the right side.
Research
The experiment of this project was to find a way to imitate a luxury train experience on a concrete building inside the urban jungle of Tokyo. How can a built interior space offer the same experience than a moving dynamic wagon and how can interior materials be used to simulate an automotive space? The combination of material use, dimensional canons, and geometrical shapes were the core of this design exercise.
Inspiration
The space was inspired by luxury trains rides which offers various services. The trains are composed of several wagons with special functions and special layouts. The restaurant combines two types of wagons, the cabin and the dinner and merge them to create a dining cabin, and since the restaurant theme is aquarium dining, the train windows are replaced by aquariums to create a simulation of a train cruising under the water.
Image Credits
Image #1: photographer ©Stirling Elmendorf, Nautilus, 2022. Image #2: photographer ©Stirling Elmendorf, Nautilus, 2022. Image #3: photographer ©Stirling Elmendorf, Nautilus, 2022. Image #4: photographer ©Stirling Elmendorf, Nautilus, 2022. Image #5: photographer ©Stirling Elmendorf, Nautilus, 2022.
Project Overview
The Grand Blue Express Restaurant has been a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2021 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Tetsuya Matsumoto was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2022, a testament to excellence of their work The Grand Blue Express Restaurant.
Tetsuya Matsumoto Press Releases
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The Grand Blue Express: A Luxurious Aquarium Dining Experience in Ueno, Tokyo
Discover the Grand Blue Express, a luxury aquarium dining restaurant in Ueno, Tokyo, designed by Tetsuya Matsumoto
Tetsuya Matsumoto Newsroom
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