Strawfire by Ross Shonhan
by Silverfox Studios Pte Ltd

Silverfox Studios Pte Ltd presents Strawfire, a sensory exploration of rural Japan rooted in the traditions of rice straw. The studio’s design blends immersive elements and refined detailing, capturing a narrative where craftsmanship and culture are intricately woven.

The journey begins at the interactive entrance, where a semi-circular projection responds to guest movement, offering a dynamic welcome. Within the Gold Lounge Bar, decorative straw bales, illuminated bamboo and hanging rods evoke the rice harvest. A long banquet sofa offers communal seating beside sake cocktail tables and lounge areas. At its centre, a glowing globe symbolises the autumnal setting sun. The bar counter wraps around straw bales, while the back bar is framed by silk hand-printed gold paper depicting rice straw.

In the Grill Room, Silverfox Studios creates a theatrical dining experience. Guests encounter a butcher’s block, meat ager, DJ station and copper rice straw bins. At its heart sits the Warayaki grill, positioned beneath a vast hand-beaten brass hood that focuses attention on the flames below. The counter front features fragmented gloss gold and timber ceramic tiles, contrasted by a backdrop of deep jade hand-finished Japanese tiles.

The dining area is framed by gold and cream relief-tiled columns and a layered silk ceiling canopy. A backlit Kumiko wood screen, crafted in the traditional Japanese joinery style, conceals the kitchen, offering glimpses of chef activity through a filtered slot. Opposite, gold metal drapes cascade from the ceiling, enclosing intimate booth seating along the windows, completing Silverfox Studios’ atmospheric interpretation of rural Japanese heritage.

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Architect: EHAF Consulting Engineers

Interior Designer: Silverfox Studios Pte Ltd

Hotel Group/ Developer: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Construction: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Photography: Oki Jingu