Pari Pari Introduces the Serenity of Japanese Architecture to Miami

Stacey Leasca
Oct 9
2 min read

Rudy Guénaire has designed the interiors for a new Japanese restaurant in Miami called Pari Pari.

French interior designer Rudy Guénaire has designed the interiors for a new Japanese restaurant in Miami's Wynwood district, focusing the entire room around a counter resembling a softly illuminated lamp. The newly established restaurant, Pari Pari, is the creation of Michelin-starred Japanese chef Yasu Tanaka, who influenced Guénaire to integrate Japanese architectural philosophy into the design.

“In Japan, architecture has historically prioritized light over color or material, with light being intrinsically linked to shadow,” he stated. “Conversely, Miami is characterized by perpetual sunshine: an infinite expanse of white sand, and as the sun descends, the skyline glistens under neon illumination.”

Partially inspired by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s essay on Japanese aesthetics, “In Praise of Shadows,” Guénaire endeavored to create a place characterized by a softness in both color and light. “My intention was to create ‘A Praise of Light’ — the antithesis, on the opposite side of the globe, to Tanizaki’s contemplation of shadow,” he remarked.

The restaurant's primary feature is the handroll counter, envisioned by the designer as a substantial Japanese andon lamp. Constructed from American maple, it radiates a luminescence that mimics the rising sun throughout the day and the city's sunsets at night. A large, hanging curtain above the counter alludes to the noren that adorn the entrances of Japanese restaurants. This substantial canopy forms a visual frame for the counter where the fish is cooked.

In other areas of the interior, Guénaire sought to integrate heritage with regional aesthetics. The little Pari Pari sign alludes to the three-dimensional logos of Miami’s 1930s hotels, while the elevated stools in aquatic tones were constructed adhering to the principles of Japanese joinery (shiguchi) and assembled without adhesive.