A Design that Awakens Legends

Shoji-Schiebetür und Kübelpalme am Eingang, dahinter Fensterbank und geflieste Sushi-Theke.

In the heart of Basel, where heritage meets the contemporary, Negishi Steinen underwent a complete transformation. Our mission: the revitalization of a beloved location through powerful storytelling. We reimagined the restaurant as a tribute to the legend of the "Tiger", a design concept that fuses culinary excellence with a mystical atmosphere to deepen emotional brand loyalty.

Mystical Atmosphere in Basel

We created a spatial narrative inspired by Japanese urban legends. The result is an immersive environment that positions Negishi not just as a restaurant, but as a theatrical stage for fusion cuisine.

Tischreihe und Sushi-Theke mit Thonet-Hockern, rundes Sprossenfenster in der Kalkputzwand.
Fensterplatz in Basel: ockerfarbene Polsterbank, gerahmte Porträts mit Bilderleuchten, rote Markise.
Offene Showküche in Basel: roter Fliesenspiegel, Bonsai und Fransenlampen über der Theke.

Lighting Design & Brand Identity

Like the twilight of a setting sun. A majestic neon tiger head dominates the room, bathing it in a mystical red glow. This "Instagrammable Feature" acts as both a guardian and a powerful visual trademark.

Rundes Sprossenfenster in der Kalkputzwand: der Sushikoch bei der Arbeit, flankiert von Laternen.
Zweiertisch in der Ecke: gerahmtes Porträt mit Bilderleuchte, Lederbank und Thonet-Stuhl.
Bestellterminals im Spielautomaten-Look unter rotem Stoffbaldachin, Neonschild 'Negishi Slots'.

Project Insights: Character-Driven Facelift

An interior facelift is often more complex than a new build. For Negishi Basel, GALA had to respect the existing structure while radically renewing the guest experience. We utilized the "Tiger" urban legend to develop an immersive concept. Rather than simply replacing furniture, we created a cinematic backdrop for Japanese fusion dining.


The Design Concept: Storytelling in Space

Casual dining doesn't have to be generic. We combined standardized, functional workflows with high-emotion design elements. The contrast of dark wood, red neon, and cool stone creates an intimate atmosphere that encourages guests to linger and return.


GALA Services List:

  • Interior Facelift: Modernizing the existing space while maintaining full business operations.
  • Spatial Storytelling: Translating a brand myth into physical, three-dimensional architecture.
  • Custom Furniture: Design and production of bespoke artisanal elements (Tiger Fountain).
  • Lighting Concept: Utilizing atmospheric illumination to zone the space and evoke emotion.

Delivering Strategic Value

From Restaurant to Destination: A design that creates emotional bonds through storytelling and re-establishes the location as a top Basel "Place to Be."

Frequently Asked Questions: Hospitality Design

Balancing the "New" with the "Familiar." We modernize the space and fix technical flaws without losing the soul and atmosphere that regular guests have come to love.

Because modern guests seek experiences. Features like the neon tiger make the design "shareable" for social media and significantly strengthen the brand's unique identity.

Absolutely. We selected natural stone and hardwoods that develop a beautiful patina over time and remain easy to maintain even with high daily foot traffic.

Next Project

Negishi Winterthur

Nächtliche Ladenfront in der Passage: orange 'negishi'-Leuchtschrift und rote Sushi-Kanji hinter Glas.

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