The initial Brief is that the owner wishes to re-brand their iconic restaurant to a more contemporary design, from the original masculine industrial glass house design to a more feminine, mid-century upscale project. We found inspiration from the graceful curves of Crystal Palace (London Great exhibition), which was built during the industrial revolution in England in 1851. Modification of the grid system, modular, iron, wood and glass frames were used throughout the façade as well as within the interior of the restaurant.
The materials chosen for the restaurant exterior was faux rusted copper panels with gold stainless window frames, allowing plenty of natural lighting as well as to give the look of upscale establishment and to separate the restaurant’s façade from the monotonous modern design of the building in which the restaurant is housed.
For the interior of the restaurant, a grid system was placed and designed around, with teal blue, grey and gold stainless being chosen as the main color components. The bar stands out as the center piece, drawing attention from visitors to the connecting gold frames above and solid green and gold bar below. Delicate and flowing custom mid-century inspired lighting fixtures were added within the grid system, both to add softness to the otherwise dominating center structure and to provide continuity of the grid to the edges of the restaurant. An area of the restaurant is sectioned off via see through wire mesh metal arch structure and teal curtain, creating a muted backdrop to the central bar and allowing for private events to be held. Actual prop decoration is minimal, thin wireframe stools, Kaew Kai Ka’s signature tropical style wall mural, and living ferns added additional lightness to the interior.