Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design (JZA+D) is designing a restaurant in conjunction with chef Tetsuya Wakuda for the Marina Bay Sands Resort and Casino in Singapore. Scheduled to open this summer, Waku Ghin will feature a modern yet refined design. Guests will first notice the sake bar and caviar lounge, accented by flowing, silky fabrics hanging to create a soft, illuminated seating. JZA+D is designing the furniture for the space to balance warm tones against metallic plaster and mother of pearl used on the walls.
Beyond the bar and lounge is the grand hall, whose curving corridor walls echo the work of American minimalist sculptor Richard Serra. The carpet design draws inspiration from undulating forms of folded steel in one of the knives from Wakuda’s collection, while small wall niches throughout the hall hold works of art owned by the chef. "The grand hall is the element that spatially ties together the multiple dining experiences of Waku Ghin," says Joshua Zinder, principal of JZA+D. "We saw an opportunity to bring a sculptural element to the restaurant’s design even as we were faced with an irregularly shaped space due to the established kitchen and an adjacent restaurant."
Along the left side of the grand hall, guests can enter a series of private dining rooms wrapped in rich Nyatoh wood. Further down the grand hall, one of the large curving walls appears to fold back, providing a glimpse of the main dining room, where an arcing 3,000-bottle wine display defines a warm, circular space. Meanwhile, the drawing room serves after-dinner drinks and desserts and makes the most of its floor-to-ceiling windows.
