Café Panora

Panora – sharing the wonder of nature with more people

The setting of Panora can be sensed already in the name – a truncated version of "panorama" – but it doesn't quite prepare you for the stunning view when you're actually there. The wish to share the experience led to the challenging question: How can we open this spot to more people?

The panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer visitors a feeling of being one with the surrounding natural forest. The effect goes both ways – to an outside onlooker, the greenery reflected in the glass makes the building blend in with nature."

The scenery around Panora changes dramatically over the year, and in a very visible way," says Yukie Kasai, manager at the proprietary company Border. "We wanted to celebrate this cycle through our food, and offer guests a menu that changes with the calendar. Or, as it says on the sign – 'kitchen of the seasons'."

Making room for more visitors

"Anyone can see that this is a special place, but our problem was that we could seat relatively few guests. When we turned to IKEA for help, they jumped at the chance to make Panora more space-efficient, but without infringing on the airy feel."

Building on the foundation of a close-to-nature experience and a restaurant with a first-class chef, IKEA has assisted in creating a friendly atmosphere that can be shared by many, including families with children.

The establishment also houses three stores in connection to Panora, all of which are run by the same parent company. "Business is going well, and we are hoping to develop Panora further, both as a location and concept, and make it accessible to even more people," Yukie concludes.