Timeless Restaurant Design Merges Singapore’s History and Nature

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a timeless restaurant design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, EDG Design.

What was the client’s brief? 

Singapore’s famed Orchard Road was once lined with fruit plantations, spice gardens and orchard groves (hence its name). But with the country’s modernization these plantations gave way to office towers and shopping malls that we see today. Our brief was to pay homage to this bygone era of the location’s Colonial past, agricultural history and the beauty of the tropics seamlessly merged for diners to enjoy morning, noon and night. Thus the concept of Estate was born, a series of three distinct dining rooms linked to open theatrical food kitchens that celebrate one of Singapore’s favourite pastimes…eating!

What inspired the design of the project?

Using the concept brief as a starting point, we developed a story of a 19^th Century plantation owner living in a grand estate surrounded by lush orchards growing crops of cinnamon, nutmeg, gambir and peppercorns. The architecture of these Colonial houses also served as inspiration. We utilized a similar approach of creating a series of intimate yet interconnected rooms for dining, kitchens and private areas which encourage exploration while creating an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. The restaurant thus became a modern interpretation of a grand colonial estate that celebrates its heritage through design, palette, intricate details and gastronomy.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

This building is an iconic landmark on Orchard Road and although constructed in the 1970s, is considered old for Singapore. As such, the building has lower floor-to-floor heights seen in today’s towers; therefore we were challenged to maximize the interior ceiling heights and did so by streamlining mechanical services and adding visual tricks such as blackened mirrors on the ceiling which create the sense of height and depth in a subtle manner. We also found a hidden structural column in the middle of our buffet kitchen which was not on the original architectural drawings. We managed to re-plan the kitchen and dining rooms quickly whilst still maintaining the integrity of the design.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the total transformation from the old space into a beautiful and timeless restaurant and sharing in the positive energy and excitement of our client is what makes design so gratifying. Developing a strong design narrative told through design, overcoming a challenging building and unforeseen challenges, and adapting to a new working model of executing design and construction during the unpredictable heights of Covid-19, we feel especially proud that Estate has come out with the rest of the hotel as an exciting new venue for guests and visitors to enjoy.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID is one of the most well-known and prestigious design awards in our industry. As an international design and branding studio, we feel the opportunity to promote our work through SBID’s platform also helps EDG Design gain visibility and recognition from the voting public as we continue to create exciting and memorable guest experiences through design.

Questions answered by Simon McDonald, Design Director, EDG Design.