New York City’s new Japanese restaurant Brushstrokes (30 Hudson Street) has cleverly recycled 12,000+ discarded paperback books by utilizing them to build the walls for its bar/lounge.

The restaurant, which opens on April 20th, is a long-delayed project from chef David Bouley. A team of chefs from Japan, including Chef Isao Yamada, will be staffing the kitchen.

Along with the recycled books, reclaimed lumber, salvaged steel and stone are used as essential design elements.

photos by Kate Sokoler