Fukutontei Frankston

Fukutontei: A Contemporary Take on Japanese Dining

For over seven years, we’ve partnered with Fukutontei to shape their restaurants as they expand across the dining landscape. The name itself captures the spirit of the brand: Fuku means happiness, Ton means pork, and Tei means shop – together, “a place where you attain happiness by eating pork, and ramen.” It’s this sense of joy and authenticity that drives the design story.

This most recent opening in Frankston has been a fantastic opportunity to push the design further, refining the balance between tradition and contemporary urban dining.

Every detail, from the custom wallpaper and hanging banners to the material palette and lighting has been carefully considered to create a space that feels immersive, energetic, and distinctly Fukutontei, while welcoming a new community of guests to experience the brand’s evolving story.

CLIENT

Fukutontei

WHAT WE DID

:- Customer insights
:- Brand personality positioning
:- Shopper profiling
:- Customer journey planning
:- Zoning and category planning
:- Interior design
:- CAD Documentation
:- Design Management
:- Environmental graphics

RESTAURANTS

5+

The Bar as a Hive of Activity

The bar zone hums with energy, a hard-working service hub that doubles as the most dynamic point in the restaurant. Defined by subtle shifts in materiality and lighting, it stands apart from the dining zones while constantly drawing guests in.

The bustle of service, the rhythm of movement, and the layered textures create a sense of theatre, making the bar not just a functional core but a vivid expression of the restaurant’s atmosphere.

A Layered Sense of Authenticity

Our creative team developed bespoke wallpaper that wraps the interior, infused with Japanese motifs and layered with environmental wall graphics to deepen the cultural storytelling. Overhead, a canopy of hanging banners animates the ceiling, drawing the eye upward and extending the narrative into the vertical plane.

Together, these elements transform the restaurant into an immersive environment, one that celebrates tradition while speaking in a bold, contemporary design language.

“These bespoke details become storytelling devices, reinforcing Fukutontei’s strong cultural identity.”

Materiality and Mood

Guests are immediately enveloped in a moody palette of dark hues and layered textures that heighten the senses. Hard, polished bar surfaces bring a sharp, contemporary edge, while the softness of cloth banners overhead adds movement and warmth, creating a balance between intensity and comfort.

Warm timber accents punctuate the darker tones, grounding the space with natural texture. Lighting is orchestrated, carving out pockets of shadow, catching the grain of timber, and igniting the bold glow of modern signage light boxes.

Continuing a Shared Vision

Fukutontei is the product of a long-standing collaboration built on trust, creativity, and a shared commitment to design excellence. Over the years, each new venue has carried forward the spirit of traditional Japanese dining, while reimagining it through a contemporary urban lens. The result is a brand that continues to evolve with confidence, authentic at its core, yet always refreshed in expression.

Client, Fukutontei
Designer, Sandbox Group
Environmental Graphics, Sandbox Group
Shop fitter, Masterfit Construction
Photographer, Chris Murray

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