Sushiviche Boat
Chicago River // Illinois
Although sushi is mostly enjoyed in an indoor setting in the United States, its origins are in Edo period Japan, where it was served by street vendors alongside rivers, serving their fresh catches, and often killing the fish in front of you as proof of its freshness. The once infamously dirty Chicago river is now as hygienic as any other urban water system, and the city of Chicago is starting to build parks and trails along the river to help shift public perception. This studio looked at the craze of food-carts in urban areas and imagined boats moving along the river serving food in a similar fashion.
The Sushiviche Boat docks along the Chicago riverside and serves traditional Japanese and Peruvian dishes with a twist. All fish are caught fresh from Lake Michigan and served without ever touching land.
A double layered semi-transparent wall separates the guests from the prep cook, whose form can vaguely be made out gutting and preparing the raw fish for their sushi order.
The design of the sushi boat took inspiration from both the traditional serving of sushi by the river shore, and the elegant forms of traditional asian boat sails. The twist of the “sail” is used here as a awning for guests, that in one fluid motion covers both the lower and upper floors.
