Revisiting the glory days of the Nanyang heritage, this restaurant design has come to life with its meticulous details and intriguing textures, bringing its patrons on a journey back in time.
Capturing the essence of the Nanyang culture and its design details, the designer has referenced designs of the past and modernised it with contemporary finishes to create an authentic and believable interior, eminiscent of the past. Guests are led upstairs with an escalator as they enter the premise through a spacious entrance made of clear glass doors. They are immediately greeted by simple, classical mosaic floor tiles that are selected to set a nostalgic tone to the inner space as they also become the anchor of this retro design.
In order to make the enclosed interior spaces look wide and more spacious, lighter neutral tones are selected as the main colour palette of this project. Further complemented with wooden elements, the atmosphere created is one of homeliness and nostalgia. Generally, the seating area is divided into two major sections – an open and an intimate setting. Retro-like tables that are paired with dark wooden chairs are arranged in closer proximity at the open setting to maximise the available space. On the other hand, the intimate seating area is given a warm timber deck and a darker wall paint for a cosier environment.
Another major element that gave this project its competitive edge is its decorative features, especially its walls and partitions. Mixing and matching different building materials such as wood, concrete and metal to achieve a more layered and comprehensive design, each wall feature and partition retains a common trait which interplays the concept of hollow and substance. Materials are arranged and weaved together to form voids in between, serving as a modern expressionism while manipulating the penetration of light in creating comfortable shadow effects that add to the comfort of its ambience. Similarly, lighting fixtures are carefully selected and placed to provide for a soothing vibe without being overly glaring as the lighting further highlights its unique design features.