After receiving the concept brief, Hui Designs’ Siew Hui Lim was granted free rein to create a new look for the venue in Singapore. The client requested only two key elements to be incorporated into the design: the retention of the brand’s signature jade green hue and showcasing ancestral photographs. This thoughtful inclusion pays tribute to the family's culinary roots, honouring Nelson's great grandmother, grandmother and mother, who passed down treasured recipes.
Lim knew exactly how she wanted to approach the design. "I wanted the space to imbue the essence of Burmese/Southeast Asian culture, values and sensibilities, and to invoke a sense of nostalgia yet staged in a modern setting," she explains.
Drawing inspiration from rural farmhouses, where furniture and interiors are utilitarian first and foremost, Lim crafted an interior that is both functional and aesthetically engaging. The modest 850-sq-ft unit centres around natural skylight, with the open kitchen and chef's counter situated below, sheltered by gridded timber trellises. This becomes the focal point upon entry.
The back walls are clad in cartabon glazed tiles in split colours of verde and straw, with the verde shade aligning with Club Rangoon’s signature jade green. A stand-alone service bar counter is strategically positioned diagonally across from the chef’s counter, breaking the monotony of the dining area and imparting a homely atmosphere.
A round table is essential in traditional Asian dining, symbolising the communal nature of Burmese cuisine. Despite the efficiency of rectangular tables in a narrow space, Siew Hui Lim managed to incorporate a round table near the entrance. This dining area is further enhanced by a façade breeze block wall that wraps around the space, featuring predominantly straw-coloured glazed blocks interspersed with verde blocks in an ombre pattern. To soften the contrasting ceiling heights at the entrance and main dining area, jute (hessian) fabric draping in random ripple folds spans the breadth of the unit.
In terms of materials, the same jute fabric is applied to the lampshades of custom-designed pendant and suspended light fixtures. The glazed breeze block walls framing the façade and dining spaces, as well as the glazed ceramic tiles, are sourced from FERRÉS CERAMICA in Spain, supplied locally by Rubik Material Lab. The engineered wood floorboards are designed to evoke a recycled look, imparting an aged finish. Plain walls are rendered in ecru sand texture plaster, providing a counterpoint to the vibrant tones of the breeze blocks and tiles. Raw-finished meranti wood is utilised for carpentry, adding warmth to the space. Loose furniture, including dining chairs and high stools, is custom-made to convey a rustic touch.
The overall aesthetic of Club Rangoon is vibrant yet steeped in nostalgia, designed to enhance the experience of dining in a modern Burmese restaurant that serves authentic flavours.
