This island café doubles as a hub for the woodworkers who helped build it

The Gate Lounge, situated 180 km west of Osaka on Shodoshima Island, tackles the logistical challenges of its remote location by leveraging resources from its client – a major local olive producer. This partnership provides materials and expertise, connecting the project to the island’s agricultural roots and supporting the local economy. Working alongside architects and contractors, the client supplied local cypress wood and stone, milled the materials, and helped construct the building – a collaboration that extended to environmental considerations, with the structure designed to maximize natural light and ventilation.

The structure features a curvilinear form with its undulating exterior resembling the organic lines of olive leaves. Overlapping metal roof panels wrap the building in layers that create a sense of movement, while the use of timber beams gives it a warm, natural feel. Inside, the lounge serves as a mixed retail and café space, with a spacious layout characterized by exposed wooden trusses that enhance the raw, rustic aesthetic. Large glazed openings allow visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, inviting the outdoors in.

The building, which embraces a thousand-year-old olive tree, features strategically placed slits to channel sunlight and sea breezes, ensuring a comfortable climate inside. To meet the challenge of using local materials, Vuild implemented digital fabrication technology. A CNC-machine processed the island’s abundant cypress logs, creating intricate wooden joints previously only achievable by skilled artisans. Overall, the design emphasizes sustainability, reducing its carbon footprint by keeping material sourcing within a 5.5 km radius, resulting in a project that exemplifies the perfect blend of client engagement and sustainable practices.