The Catch is an izakaya-style restaurant in a neoclassical building in the affluent neighbourhood of Charlottenburg, Berlin. With a design concept rooted in the contrast and interaction between Berlin and Japan, the space gets a lot of its character from the smart application of contrast as a tool. See for example, how the roughness of the timber and exposed original walls plays with the lightness and fragility of the wicker lamps.
These contrasts are an expression of the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy, a worldview based on the idea that beauty is imperfect and impermanent. Just like the city of Berlin with its pre-war grandeur interspersed with stark concrete structures, coloured by artistic graffiti and personalities.
The interior oozes with references to traditional Japanese culture interpreted in contemporary form. Notice the display of dishware repaired in the kintsugi or golden repair technique. The decorative panels above the bar, inspired by Japan’s Noren or fabric panel curtains. In the bathrooms, manga and neon nod at the modern day vibe of Tokyo.
Open for lunch and dinner, later in the night The Catch welcomes guests for cocktails, sake and whiskey. Open AD placed a heavy focus on lighting design to ensure a change in atmosphere between dining and drinking hours. The wicker lights above the handcrafted natural wood and epoxy resin table are inspired by fishing nets and baskets. The atmospheric pink and blue light is based on the shape of a traditional Japanese boat, the wasen.
Team: Zane Tetere-Sulce, Olga Ponomarjova, Beatrise Dzerve
