Lim + Lu, a young New York-born multidisciplinary design practice, has completed their restaurant project, Kasa. Located in the central district of Hong Kong, Kasa is the latest addition to Wellington Street’s busy lunch hour options. The client’s brief was simple and concise: “Healthy, take away, fusion cuisine.”

Lim + Lu’s design concept for KASA began with the exploration of what it means to be deeply rooted in Hong Kong culture. Ideas of Cha Chaan Teng (literally ‘tea restaurant’), wet markets, and neon light-filled streetscapes immediately came to mind. Cha chaan tengs are local diners where Hong Kongers satisfy their appetites with Indigenous comfort foods. These establishments helped shape the architectural vernacular of the city.

Since freshness is a quality the client wanted to convey to his patrons, Lim + Lu selected pendant lights that pay homage to the ones that are commonly found in the wet markets of Hong Kong. Wet markets are a big part of the culture and are the epitome of what it means to be fresh – daily catches and freshly picked greens are on display every day. The lights are a subtle detail, but one that the designers hope will trigger one to recollect the familiar.

Neon signs populate Hong Kong’s streetscape and these twisted, glowing glass tubes have become part of the city’s DNA. Drawing inspiration from the streets, Lim + Lu introduced a LED sign that floats over the kitchen that reads ‘healthy eating’ in Chinese.

The design process mandated Lim + Lu to question what is fundamentally ‘cha chaan teng’. Booth seating, mirrors, and tiled walls and floors were reoccurring elements that give these institutions their charm and character. The studio began with the typical cha chaan teng tiles, which came in selected colours only. As a result, the palette for the restaurant was derived through the tiles – green and pink. These colours help reinforce the ideas of freshness and youth.

Since both Lim and Lu were born and raised in the East, educated and practised in the West, a balance of both cultures is vital to them and always translated to their design. They wanted to bring Kasa’s fusion cuisine concept into the interiors and allow the design to evoke the menu. This is done via the juxtaposition of contrasting materials and design elements, through pairing materials that are typically used in Chinese restaurants with elements found in Western dining rooms – the crude mosaic tiles with refined marble.

Kasa’s primary focus is serving the busy lunch crowd by preparing food that can be easily consumed on the go. To support this concept, Lim + Lu maximised the storefront by implementing completely collapsible folding doors. As a result, the restaurant becomes an extension of the street. Upon entry, one is met with what seems to be another building façade where windows allow voyeurism from above – blurring the lines between interior and exterior.

Photography by Dennis Lo and Nirut Benjabanpot.

http://limandlu.com/