Designed by: @mash.mariaschunn x @ukyo.x

Captured by: @_in_still_

ukyo X, the third location of the ukyo brand, is set in the historic centre of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, within a pedestrian area shaped by historical layers and an active public life. The space extends the street into the interior, with glass sliding doors that allow the commercial front to open completely. Through a restrained architectural language, the project introduces the listening bar typology, evolved from Tokyo and London, to Romania, creating a quieter and more intimate hybrid space.

Part cafe, part listening lounge, part cultural space and part urban living room, ukyo X is organized around transient moments, from a first coffee to placing a vinyl record or the transition from daylight to evening. The interior is divided into four areas: a coffee bar, a lounge, a music and art space, and a secluded co-working nook. Shared materials connect these environments, while the changing light throughout the day allows the atmosphere to shift naturally from morning to evening.

At the centre of the lounge, a modular furniture piece establishes a continuous axis for social interaction. Inspired by the idea of a family table, it allows each person to choose their degree of involvement without creating a hierarchy between more or less isolated seats. During the day, natural light moves across restored mosaic floors, warm veneer surfaces and softly reflective stainless steel, while the neutral palette keeps sound and human presence at the centre of the experience.

As evening approaches, the light becomes softer and music takes precedence. The space shifts into a listening environment centred on a custom-built, Berlin-made H.A.N.D. HI FI sound system and an audiophile rotary mixer. Rather than relying on spectacle or excess, ukyo X builds its identity through intimacy and atmosphere, allowing the space to function as an extension of the street while adapting to the changing rhythm of the day.