Commune Design Unveils Nashville Vinyl Bar & Restaurant Inspired by Japanese Kissas
888 borrows design cues from traditional Japanese listening bars with elements crafted by Japanese artisans and contemporary designers.
LA-based interiors and architecture firm Commune Design has been enlisted for a new hospitality space located at the base of the JW Marriott hotel tower in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by Japanese kissas, a term for bars and tea houses centered on vinyl listening, the sushi restaurant and vinyl bar is a celebration of Japanese culture and design.
888 playfully describes itself with the simple statement, “If Jamiroquai produced a track for James Brown and Mac Miller wrote the hook on it,” offering both refined Japanese cuisine and a high-fi listening experience. In close partnership with Commune, the interior is thoughtfully designed for optimal acoustics.
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Wood paneled walls and partitions imbue the space with a cozy Japanese interior feel, while also giving the venue a retro 70s vibe. 888’s color palette of warm-toned hues like mustard yellow, dark green, magenta, and maroon textile wall coverings, recycled gym flooring, and patterned upholstery create a vibrant, yet intimate atmosphere akin to bygone underground Jazz clubs.
To bridge its cultural inspirations, Commune tapped Japanese artisans including Yusuke Nagai for a lighting installation, Senda Takanori for washi paper details made from pulped record covers, and Akira Minagawa for upholstery fabrics with Mina Perhonen.
On the stateside, Devon Turnbull helped design a custom speaker, Adam Pogue created patchwork light fixtures, and Sofia Londono designed a statement-making sushi bar and DJ stand clad in custom blue tiles. The audiophile-grade sound system design, which brought Turnbull together with award-winning Steven Durr Designs and Soundlux Audio, is inspired by vintage Altec Lansing speakers and utilizes 1200MK turntables.
See the gallery above to see the finished project. 888 is open now at the following address:
800 Clark Place
Nashville, TN 37203
