When a beloved Hyderabad bakery vacated its premises, the narrow & linear building it left behind seemed impossible to adapt. For most, the proportions were a deal-breaker; however, for Geethu and Sreyas, co-founders of FellowYellow, they were the spark. The duo saw in the 6000 sq. ft shell, the Japanese principle of nagare (meaning: flow or current), and turned the constraint into the restaurant’s defining strength. This concept guides every aspect of the design: from how visitors move through the space to how light washes over textured surfaces and day gradually transitions into the night.
Set amidst lush greenery on the city’s edge, Osaka is shaped as much by its site as by its shell. The serene backdrop heightened the idea of flow, blurring the indoors and outdoors to create a refreshing alfresco dining experience. The restaurant was conceived to elegantly shift between daytime dining and an atmospheric evening bar, supporting efficient service while offering an identity that feels refined, modern, and free from predictable Pan-Asian tropes.
Light and movement became the tools of transformation at Osaka. With minimal interventions aimed at letting nature flow freely into the space, walls were opened, windows expanded, a skylight cut into the staircase, and the entrance lifted to a double height to give a sense of grand welcome. At the threshold, guests encounter a live counter; the aroma of fresh ingredients and the sight of food in preparation setting the tone before they move into the dining areas. Anchored by a kinetic koi installation and an indoor Zen Garden, the interiors at Osaka unfolds as a sequence of focal points that draw attention away from the rigid form and toward an atmosphere of openness, breath, and connection.
Spatially, Osaka unfolds across three levels, each with its own tempo. The ground floor pairs natural elements with a quiet Japanese sensibility: koi fish sculptures float beneath a rippling mirror ceiling in the waiting area, while a jali screen links the main dining with a Zen Garden beyond. On the first floor, the rhythm slows into nostalgia. A private dining room recalls zashiki seating, with built-in benches paired with Asian motifs, while a glasshouse-like volume expands the dining experience with crisscross timber battens and soft, uniform light. The staircase then releases the space into a terrace floor, where rigid wooden lines give way to flowing white drapes, a long counter, and open-to-sky sit-outs that invite the city breeze.
Materiality carries the narrative forward. Inspired by kigumi, the traditional Japanese art of wood joinery, timber grids extend across ceilings, stairwell partitions, and custom lighting. Concealed joints and warm textures create an architecture of precision and restraint, while a sculptural floor lamp, refined through multiple on-site mock-ups, stands as a quiet continuation of the craft language. The curved roof, finished with grey FRP tiles that echo traditional kawara clay, and supported by corbelled details, introduces a structural rhythm that nods to classic Japanese craftsmanship while ensuring durability for a high-traffic restaurant.
Intentional details weave function with symbolism. The koi, rendered in deep red and animated with a subtle sense of motion, bridges the two levels of dining. The Zen Garden screens the kitchen’s service entry while framing the guest’s view. A muted, earthy palette of beige, timber, greys, and whites, accented with subtle blues and dark wood furniture, ties the space together into a language that feels balanced, timeless, and free of cliché.
“Everyone saw the building’s narrowness as a problem,” quips Sreyas. But for FellowYellow, that constraint became the starting line. “Japanese design is about movement and continuity, and this form, as restrictive as it seemed, was the perfect vessel to create that journey,” adds Geethu. Osaka closes on that note, not as any other restaurant filled with Oriental objects and motifs, but as a current to step into. It carries you forward and makes you flow naturally into the space, even as you leave it behind.
