Project Team

Interior Design: Architects EAT
Lighting Consultant: AT Lighting
Main Contractor: Renascent
Other consultant: ITC Group

Suppliers

Lighting: Satelight, Studio Italia
Furniture: I Creative, Mark Tuckey
Wall paper - Florence Broadhurst Signature Prints
Floor tiles: Classic Ceramics
Curtains: Annette Saker Design
Sanitary ware: Caroma

The design of this Chinese restaurant seeks to strike a balance between the traditional and contemporary aesthetics. EAT’s main intention is to create spaces which people can associate with without feeling out of place. The translation of traditional stone and lattice motif, to simplified forms and finishes that reflects our contemporary aesthetics helps to create a subtle cultural influence, without over emphasizing the Chinese theme.

Starting from the exterior of the design, the idea is to use a very dark and natural material pallet to help accentuate the interior space. The feature stone cladding at the entrance help frames the wine display area. The showcase of the wine room is a space for
storing and displaying the wine. It is important to promote the restaurant as not just a place of good food but also a fine selection of great wines.

The Bar area, being the heart of the operation, is a very important space of the restaurant. The choice of blue stone tiling and concrete blocks creates a natural and monolithic appearance, so that it contrast from the more refined & delicate finishes of the
restaurant. It is important that each space is given a character of its own.

With an approximate floor area of 700sqm, the restaurant offers a number of dining experiences. The main dining area offers standard seating with custom made tables and beautifully crafted horse shoe back chairs. EAT wanted to achieve an open space with minimum visual and physical obstruction. This is to ensure smooth operation during Yam Cha. As the restaurant is situated on the southern side of the mall,

the full height glazing allows for the ‘soft’ southern light to penetrate the main dining area. It also offers
the patrons a fantastic view towards the suburb of Doncaster. Hanging features and pendant lights helps to layer and create visual interest in this large area.

With the heavy flow of traffic and noise (from yam cha trolleys), a level of acoustic control and comfort had
to be achieve; this is done through the use of carpet flooring; curtain and fabric lighting fixtures. The fish tank serves as a transitional element to the VIP rooms, the window slots feature an array of fresh water and salt water fishes.

As we move pass the fish tank display, the second dining area offers a more intimate experience: (i) The heavy looking timber portal frame is used to capture or frame the designated dining space without having to use any partitions, therefore still maintaining a level
of openness. (ii) The gold tinted pendant light fittings provide an intimate lighting quality. (iii) The dark wall finishes reduces light reflectivity and help maintain the ambience of this space.

Feature wall lightings that relates to the floral wallpapers are lined along the corridor leading towards the three function rooms tucked at end of the restaurant. In these rooms, the brief was to create a flexible function space that can cater for a range of seating requirements. The use of foldable wall panels enables the space to be divided into individual rooms depending on size of the function. The design language is uniform in this area so that the styling flows smoothly when the partitions are fully open.