90 Main Rd
Moonah TAS 7009
Australia
Overview
The bold interior of the Hobart and Moonah Bento Box form a cohesive, recognisable branding for the franchise, highlighted by the strong use of oriented strand board (OSB). Developed together as a single concept, the interiors were conceived as an abstracted unfolded box, like the containers in which traditional Japanese bento takeaway is served. The consciously crafted interior lining was juxtaposed with an inexpensive mass-produced construction material. OSB was also chosen because of its warm natural quality and appearance that references textures such as rice, paper screens or wooden matting, as well as other aspects of Japanese culture. Our client wanted to try and capture the ‘energy’ of Tokyo’s street life: the OSB reflected this in its random grain composition while also forming a calm background that accentuated intense splashes of red and black – the branding of the franchise.
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Structure
OSB panels have been used as an internal lining across the wall and ceilings throughout the Bento franchises. They successfully tie the interiors together and provide a recognisable brand for the business. Coated with clear polyurethane and in some instances painted black, OSB provides an inexpensive, interesting and practical alternative to plasterboard.
OSB has also been used in instances to construct loose furniture, such as stools. Due to the structural properties of the panel, this is the perfect use for the material, requiring no further elements in the construction. It lines benches and provides a background for branding, tying the whole space together.
Interior
OSB has been used in a series of ways throughout the interior: it has been cut into battens to create vertical elements, subtly referencing Japanese architecture; it is a background for crisp white branding on walls; it has been painted black, the shiny finish showcasing the textural element of the board; and it has been used for furniture elements. OSB panels perfectly offset the cool, utilitarian nature of the concrete floors, while providing a unified interior that is consistent across the two locations. OSB provides interest and texture to the spaces, while acting as a brand identifier that is instantly visible from the street.
