Image Credit : Saigon Street
Project Overview
Creating a dining destination that was entirely new in Bali with a downtown Hanoi vibe, exciting use of neon and layered decorative textures and colour.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Design Director: Alex Zabotto-Bentley?Production
Designer: Peter Harley?Interior
Style Producer:Jenni Munster
?Architect: Fredo Taffin
?Furniture Designer: Michel Schoppe (Bali Bold Design)?
Project Brief
Create a dining destination entirely new to Bali and capitalize on the brand equity that Aki Koitz has with Ku De Ta and the incredible talents of chef Geoff Lindsay. We were asked to create a space out of an old restaurant shell that was a multi functioning restaurant, bar and event space with a Vietnamese street vibe where the essence of the flavors comes from the design.
The bar design called for the creation of a substantial space for large numbers of guests and the creation of an environment within the larger space that was intimate enough for small tables of 2-4 to larger groups of 12-20. ??
We wanted to create a downtown Hanoi vibe without the literal references like obvious neon signage. The use of the accents above French Vietnamese palpate and language to give the cue for the custom neon art was a subtle nod to this. ??The design of the neon’s in pastel colours used as almost the sole lighting source means the walls are forever washed in pastel and the Saigon Street 1.4m wall mounted neon rooster mascot has become a recognizable logo for the restaurant.
Project Need
As Design Director I took elements from Tokyo, Barcelona and Argentina and mashed them up with Vietnam cool, which is a very different direction for dining options in Bali. ??
We also custom designed a range of furniture exclusively for Saigon Street that really helped the venture to strike a great balance between bustling street style and modern chic.
Design Challenge
Saigon Street was an existing building and bar/restaurant that we totally transformed with substantial building work. ??We wanted to create a feeling of being outside, but protected from the heat and humidity, so we built an internal air-conditioned pergola, with an outdoors atmosphere. ??
We also extended an existing small mezzanine to create an entire second level dining area and ripped out the old bar and doubled its size. The addition of shelving, beautifully finished with great architectural detail, is reminiscent of the French influences in Vietnamese food. ?
Then we designed a theatrical wrap and roll area. It’s like a fully air-conditioned box where the wrap and roll specialists create the famous Geoff Lindsay rice paper rolls. ??
So there were multiple challenges! But we enjoy working with challenges and pushing boundaries.
Sustainability
Sustainability was a big focus for the project with the use of locally made products, Balinese artisans, recycled timber and metal.
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The focal paint of the restaurant is the use, throughout, of neon, all of which was locally designed and produced. ?
We designed everything but made sure that many aspects were recycled - from recycled railway sleepers as out door seating to recycle flooring and timber building poles to create the large second level event/dining space. ??We scoured many local markets to find all the decorative that was up cycled and repainted to add the original elements from Javanese enamel tea caddies to Vietnamese metal plates. ??
We use local artists to replicate smaller designs into large murals and used local pigment color where possible. The walls are painted in local pigment based paint and all new chairs were manufactured locally from locally sourced recycled timber. ??
All excess water and washing water is used to water the many plants.
Interior Design - International Hospitality
Open to all international projects this award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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