So 9, which translates to ‘Number 9’, is the lucky number in Vietnamese culture. Situated in Waterloo, Sydney, So 9 restaurant serves up authentic Vietnamese street food in a refined, minimal and contemporary setting.

The interior has been designed around the preparation of the cuisine, with cooking stations for different traditional menu items, bringing the diner into the cooking experience. Detailed joinery creates implied boundaries providing intimacy whilst keeping the space open and a variety of seating styles allow for multiple dining experiences. Subtle references to Vietnamese style are made through forms and materials, however the interior presents a new environment to experience this artisan food.

The starting point for the interior design was the brand, where inspiration was taken from the keywords and values established for the brand. Refined, Vietnamese, soul, memory, light, contemporary. These keywords, along with the branding, which is soft and airy, guided the choice of materials. The watercolour illustrations used in the branding also inspired many of our decisions as well.

The idea of memory underpins the central interior features. The timber batons carried through the space create a framing, catching memories and experiences from all different users. The plywood joinery with flickers of mirror also relate to this theme, much like how flickers of memory often appear non-linearly. The element that ties the concept together is the timber framing that is carried through the interior and joinery details. This framing related to the idea of memory.

The designers referred a lot to the So 9 Brand that they also designed to help guide them on the ambience they wanted to achieve. The brand is refined, authentic and memorable. To complement this, the idea for the restaurant was to serve traditional Vietnamese food in a modern setting that had subtle cues of the client’s Vietnamese heritage. The interiors reflect this with a delicate, relaxed and refined atmosphere.