SOJIJI POTALA

Café Potala was built on the grounds of Soji-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple with a history spanning 1140 years. The distinctive roofs were inspired by the landscape of Mount Potalaka where it is believed that Kannon, the goddess of mercy, descends. In order to maintain a natural appearance to the beautiful stepped-slat wooden ceiling, lights were installed together in extremely thin frames floating in the air to ensure brightness throughout the space. Uplights that cast soft light upwards into the wooden ceiling, and downlights and transformers that ensure the usability of seating around tables at floor level are built into the frames.
The section size was designed to be as small as possible, with millimeter tolerances, to increase the buoyant atmosphere. The surfaces of the frames were made from mirror panels to assimilate them into the surroundings and erase their presence.
This temple café located on a hill in a residential area lights up like a lantern at night to give passers-by a sense of security. The iconic shape of the roof and comfortable space filled with trees and lights have become a beloved place of relaxation and refreshment for many locals throughout the day and night.

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