Casa Cucina & Bar
Project : Restaurant
Location : Sai Yin Pun, Hong Kong
Designed as home nested in a three-storey repurposed warehouse, Casa is not only setting a new tone to the restaurant scene in Sai Yin Pun, but redefining the traditional neighbourhood's identity.
Although the restaurant only recently opened, its interior is designed to feel lived in and inviting.
Behind the design stand two fundamental inspirations : the Venetian Cicchetti-inspired cuisine served by the Chef, Anthony Cheung, and the making of a mingling, bonding, social place.
Earthy, Airy, Homely
To best reflect Anthony Cheung's fresh, handmade menu, the scheme revolves around the creation of an inviting, warm and light-filled space.
Just like a house, CASA is divided into a series of rooms: the social room, blurring with the outdoors through bi-folding doors all across its façade, the dining room, half a level up, with the open kitchen and chef’s table and the loft, upstairs, that can be used as a private dining room.
The main bar in the social is the main focal point: seen from every angle of the space, the vibrant mint green finger tiles wrap from its front to form the dado of the façade. Formed as an arch reminiscent of roman italian architecture, the back bar adds both depth and grandeur to the social room.
Venetian plaster is used on the facade and some of the interior walls as an homage to traditional Italian villas. The material, developed from shades of pink coral to peach, gives an earthy and soft theme to the space. Off-white walls and ceilings provide the tall and deep interior a fresh, cosy and bright atmosphere.
Humble finishes and timeless elements feature throughout, including the original stone flooring, wooden parquet, wooden cladded staircase and brick walls.
These are contrasted by bold contemporary pieces, including large geometric lighting fixtures that make the double height glazed façade glow like a lantern at night.
Art is present throughout the space and develops as a visual language for the food served: from the iconic art wall above the dining room banquette, to larger pieces on the double height brick wall and the staircase. The diverse range of abstract art, illustrations and vintage posters make the dining experience homely yet playful, refined and authentic, just like Chef Anthony’s cuisine.
Photos : Amanda Kho Photos @akhokho
