on the walls of the mango tree cafe, a cultural snapshot of thailand’s street life: one of overloaded humans who magically resemble an enchanted forest, melding a fierce jungle setting with provincial life on a busy thai street. classic thailand with a contemporary twist, creating an innovative vibe with a familiar background that sets the scene for the novel menu – authentic thai meets western cuisine – that invites all to experience its quirky fun.
inspired by haitian vodou, paradis takes its cues from the haitian goddess of the moon: mawu. the mesmerising mystique of a lunar eclipse is seen throughout the space, from subtle hints across the restaurant’s branding, to the custom-made lighting fixtures fitted throughout the space itself. it caters specifically to creatures of the night, taking visitors from dinner service through to cocktail hour, and onwards through the wicked hours of the early morning.
rich greens and earthy browns are at the base of the interiors, balanced with a striking gold finishes throughout. on the walls, visitors find a reflection of their own animalistic desires, with hand-painted murals intricately drawn directly to the restaurant walls — each so delicately drawn as if they were created by the priestess herself.
at the centre, the low-slung ceiling encompasses visitors in a warm embrace, while the brass, soft woods and rattan straw details create a sense of discovery that could – until now – only be found in the outdoors.
the scene is set: circa 1940, somewhere along the mid-west, a group of circus performers are on their way to the next gig on their national grand tour and boy, do they have an appetite. an appetite for magic, milkshakes and more, that is. cue burger circus.
burger circus is a whimsical take on the classic mid-century americana diner. the space, inspired by edward hopper’s painting “compartment c, car 293”, encompasses train carriage accents like the curved stainless steel wall panels and warm tones casted by vintage lamps. the circus narrative in the branding content was derived from francis lawrence’s water for elephants and is pushed throughout the menus and circus posters, which vividly display the different characters’ quirks and talents. situated at the foot of soho, customers take a ride ( almost literally, as they dine in carriage booths ) to a nostalgic time filled with retro vibes and feel good food.
the energy is electric, propelling a youth culture revolution. hotshot, the new all-day diner in Repulse Bay, is inspired by the restless attitude and exploits of surfers and skaters. the brand identity and interior design are direct reflections of fearless low-rider graffiti lifestyle – melding plucky west coast grit and timeless cool.
the restaurant’s hangar interior is modeled around a lifeguard station, with iconic surfboards – each a one-of-a-kind masterpiece – adorning the walls (alongside vintage comics and classic beer crates). the materials used were chosen to reflect the era’s easy going aesthetic, incorporating sun-bleached wood, industrial corrugated steel surfaces, a big ass fan and bright neon signage. every last detail, from the custom airstream catering trailer to the comics on the menu, was custom-made and painstakingly crafted to transport customers back to a simpler, groovier time.
the restaurant mascot, Hotshot, epitomizes the spirit: tough, carefree and more than a little crazy.
the ocean, protean and primeval, has enchanted many who have come before. along the coast of repulse bay beach, an oceanic sanctum has been imagined as a place of marvels, where one can experience beyond the surface of the sea and into the alluring depths of the unknown.
the restaurant’s interior invites you through a pool of dark blues and cyan, balanced with sandy brown finishes throughout. ceiling-to-floor windows offer a clear panoramic view of the sea-side on the horizon, diving into the deep through the portal frames flourished with silver leafs.
there is an emphasis on intimacy, as the ocean houses three private dining rooms for an added lap of luxury. magic is added with a backdrop of the ocean itself, while the walls of a jellyfish aquarium surrounding each private dining room, submerging each visitor into a pool of conversation as they observe the mystique of nature around them.
but the devil truly is in the details, with tableware and furnishings taking design cues from coral leafs, anemone spirals and fibonacci suites in shells – each designed to reflect the undersea organic geometry lives.
An elegant building stands on Hollywood Road amongst antique shops and art galleries. Discreetly opulent touches suggest this may be a smart regional office for a prosperous business. Yet inside the building, people gather to enjoy fine French cuisine in a setting filled with important and exciting works of modern and street art.
Substance were challenged to create a restaurant where modern street art, classic French gastronomy, and the space which contained the two could work together in harmony. The inspiration came in the form of 1930’s Art Deco – a design aesthetic modern enough to serve as a backdrop to constantly changing and extremely eclectic artistic expression, but also elegant and comfortable enough as a spatial environment in which to serve classic French gastronomy. The connection between the decade, art works, and cuisine was made through a craftily invented story of an abandoned office building of a formerly prosperous French tram company, now occupied by street artists who express themselves by layering their art on surfaces with a history, tagging their ideas on the physical space that has since become ‘Bibo’.
the krug room is one of the world’s finest culinary experiences but also one of the hardest place to find…established in 2006 in a partnership between mandarin oriental, hong kong and krug champagne. the renovation was to celebrate the hotel’s 50th anniversary.
nestled in the heart of the mandarin oriental hotel kitchen, the volume of the room and its location were a perfect starting point to create the intimate surroundings of a train carriage, boasting stunning views of a fast-moving kitchen. the result is that of contemporary old-world elegance.
after the success of madam sixty ate, a european restaurant founded by a whimsical chef of great imagination, we were appointed to brand a second restaurant with spanish influences in the hub of hong kong’s vibrant culinary scene.
madam’s story centered on her strange journeys and encounters with surreal animals, so it seemed natural to provide her with a quirky companion who could share her discoveries. sal curioso is madam’s spanish ex-lover, an eccentric inventor and an uncommon genius. he meticulously designs and builds contraptions specifically to best broil, steam or pop the strangely shaped animals from madam’s travels into a delicious dish. his inventions include the duck bobber, caulitail steamer, guacaloco and squid pop, all displayed throughout the 2,000 square foot space. it is madam’s dishes, featuring among others, joseph the flower-headed duck and pedro the fish with a cauliflower tail, that inspire each invention.
each device is accompanied by sal’s personal annotations of his design, construction process and his creative scrawls of his registered trademarks. the collection of schematic drawings and documents fill the food menus as patents, the interior is his studio occupied by his machines, hung with business card as licensing labels for copyrights. even the coasters on tables are not immune from sal’s touch – they are designed to draw water condensation from cocktails, a piping system that transports the liquid when coasters are placed together to connect the pipes.
a great thinker, sal is a prolific writer who displays his wall of books written and illustrated himself, displaying a fascination for innovative cooking techniques and antiquated culinary history.
paying homage to the classic parisian steak & frites la vache! brings forth the parisian bistro culinary staple to hong kong’s restaurant scene.
we were inspired by the french cartoonist jean-jacques sempé’s humorous style and created a playground for him to express his witty la vache! moments: tables, walls, coasters, wine labels, toilet paper…
we created the exploits of a mythical person that reflected the chef’s vision and the surprise pairing of ingredients. madam sixty ate is a mysterious adventurer and eclectic writer who delights us with her palate and imagination. her world view is modern with a twist, mirroring the style of food. her surreal experiences and astounding stories are reflected consistently throughout the brand using paintings, journal entries within menus, coasters and ultimately through the cuisine. the journey from discovering a new restaurant to after dinner farewell is a reflection of the journey madam has when she discovers the variable species which capture our imaginations.
