Australia design studio Looks Generous has unveiled its first international restaurant project, Bambino, in Saigon, Vietnam.
The design team endeavored to craft a space that encapsulates the essence of Italian dining and also effortlessly transitions into a late-night music venue. To address this duality, the concept draws influence from DJ and producer Daniele Baldelli, whose iconic Cosmic-Italo sound revolutionized 1980s nightlife. The spatial layout and details are also informed by midcentury architect Carlo Scarpa, known for his cutting-edge and classically unornamented designs.
An aluminum waffle ceiling light feature sets the tone of the interiors, under which unfolds a 14-person private dining room, a striking 32-foot-long claret oak-paneled bar, and a feature wine wall.
Looks Generous co-director CJ Wright emphasizes the design’s data-driven approach, citing the wine wall as an example of understanding consumer psychology. “We designed a wine wall so guests would select their bottles from the label’s visual cues rather than a barrage of text found in today’s wine lists, which aids the upselling process. In today’s digital world, for better or worse, images sell everything.”
Every detail in the space contributes to the restaurant’s personality—from the brushed stainless steel half-height walls and lowered ceilings to geometric textiles and crimson carpeting, with layers of texture achieved by stained oak timber panels, ochre-tinted glazing, and flax linen wallpaper.
More from HD:
Registration is Open for HD Expo + Conference 2024
Is Hotel Development in San Francisco Beginning to Rebound?
What I’ve Learned Podcast: Iain Watson, David Collins Studio
