Gin Design Group’s latest dining destination darling in Upper Kirby certainly has people talking. Haii Keii is a two-story, 3,000-square-foot, steak and sushi restaurant with a design inspired by the neon-drenched futurism of Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner and the cinematic intensity of Kill Bill. This sensory spectacle transports diners to a surreal and cinematic reimagining of a Japanese ryokan.
“Designing Haii Keii was so rewarding on so many levels. It gave me the opportunity to combine my previous career in set design with an F&B concept to create the kind of experiential environment the ownership was wanting,” designer Gin Braverman tells CultureMap.
Leaning into her extensive travels throughout Asia, as well as a previous residency in Taipei, Taiwan, Braverman ensured an authentic aesthetic experience that also met managing partner Jarred Tosto’s expectations in terms of creating an atmosphere that’s a little different than most other restaurants.
“Houston isn't a flashy town in the same way Miami is, but the client had a vision to bring some of that dynamic cinematic energy of concepts such as Sexy Fish into the inner loop,” says Braverman.
From the moody, metallic plaster work and murals, to the extensive use of lucite, neon lighting, high-gloss metalwork, and 4,000 linear feet of suspended rope throughout the space — there is a lot going on. The overall design is beautifully indulgent and has folks wondering: “Who actually makes this stuff?”
Braverman is no stranger to enlisting local artists and makers to bring her visions to life, and Haii Keii is no exception. Save for one, the Meow Wolf-worthy installations have all been crafted by fellow Houstonians. Braverman notes that keeping things local “allowed our studio to collaborate with all of our favorite local consultants and challenge them with some pretty wild ideas. Keeping it local was essential because the details needed to be so exact.”
Larger-than-life exterior signage and cladding by Aria Signs and Designs lead into the organically-shaped foyer. The deeply-hued metallic plaster work by Carissa Marx of Republic Finishes is juxtaposed by illuminated, neon-etched lucite panels by Raydon Creative. Marx’s plaster and mural work continues throughout the restaurant.
The centerpiece of the two-story main dining space is an inverted 8-foot Bonsai tree sculpture that acts as a chandelier. Houston favorite Moon Papas created the inflated leaf clusters of this bespoke work of art by heating acrylic sheets into molds. The skeleton is steel, while the skin is painted fiberglass. A large mirrored disk at the base of the tree acts as a secondary light source, scattering reflections down into the room.
“The multiple tests we did with Moon Pappas on the screws that attached the leaf clusters to the tree (we ended up with clear plexi headless screws), not to mention the development process for those clusters and the number of iterations we moved through to get them just right [would not have been possible with an out of town artist],” she says.
Braverman’s signature mastering of layered textures is executed in Haii Keii through clusters of elegantly draped crimson rope hanging above the turquoise velvet booths. Most of the restaurant’s vignettes are the result of artistic collaborations. “One of our favorite local fabricators, Objektfab, played a critical role in pulling all of the components together, working closely with Fibrous (in Austin) to install the 4,000-plus linear feet of red rope, with House of Fine Interiors on the booths.”
Speaking of Objektfab, the firm is responsible for creating the raspberry-red, high-gloss, powder-coated metalwork seen throughout the space. Their handiwork is also sprinkled into the champagne-bronze woven wire mesh bar apron, as well as the dramatic staircase. The firm collaborated with Braverman’s lighting designer KPK on the illuminated stair railing fins and fabricated all of the metalwork as well.
Solid blocks of shou sugi bahn (a Japanese wood-burning technique) support the neon staircase leading to the mezzanine, which houses Haii Keii’s private dining spaces. Illuminated Shoji screens pull double-duty, allowing privacy for mezzanine guests and entertaining main dining room guests with shadow projections. “We worked with Input Output and our lighting designer on setting the projections and coordinating those to perfection,” says Braverman. Premier Audio Solutions is the audio/visual company that pulls the show together.
Diners looking for a surreal dining experience would do well to explore the wild world of Haii Keii, if for no other reason than to take in the incredible creative works of their fellow Houstonians.
“If all of these people weren't local, it would have taken twice as long and been very complicated to coordinate,” says Braverman. “So we are so grateful for everyone's hard work and dedication to the end result."
