Two restaurant spaces share the spotlight at the Police Married Quarters (PMQ) complex in Hong Kong’s Central district. Designed by locally based Joyce Wang, Isono Eatery & Bar and Vasco Fine Dining offer two distinctive aesthetics across the sixth and seventh floors in an unusual heritage building.
“With one of the toughest budgets we had ever worked with and a site under the scrutiny of various heritage building institutions, we were constantly challenged to creative solutions without sacrificing the design integrity of our scheme,” Wang says. The original building was a dormitory for Hong Kong policemen and therefore had a layout similar to private living quarters. In designing Isono on the lower floor, Wang’s team took advantage of these divisions to create four private dining rooms. Previous kitchen areas became the restaurant’s reception, wine display units, and wait stations.
Isono’s main dining area features an open floorplan to evoke a more casual vibe. “The materials and palette of Isono draw inspiration from the modern Basque-influenced fare it offers, juxtaposed alongside the heritage elements and architecture of the site,” says Wang. A dark timber wall finish contrasts against light floors, which are tiled with reclaimed wood planks and baked bricks.
The fittings and furniture are a blend of new and vintage. Calacatta gold and gray travertine marble encircles the bar and tables are topped with a butcher-block wooden finish. Olive oil-hued cowhide covers the seating and banquettes, while the original steel structural columns pair with raw concrete walls.
“While the downstairs eatery and bar exudes a relaxed, informal vibe, as you move to the upper floor, the space radiates a more luxurious feel,” explains Wang of Vasco. The Spanish-influenced restaurant is set on the mezzanine level, adjacent to an alfresco area overlooking the rest of the PMQ complex. “Chef Paolo Casagrande’s cooking style and his vision have been our inspiration and direction throughout the creative process,” she adds. A palette of gold, burnt caramel, deep green, and tar references the aging process of olive oil and also reflects the palette of colors popular in the midcentury era. Marble paneling, dimly lit onyx ceilings, and Art Deco furniture pair with black lacquered floors, which extend to the balcony outside.
Set on a new-build suspended slab, the restaurant’s floating private balcony is supported by the bones of the building. ”Instead of a completely enclosed private room, we created a skeletal structure to keep the massing to a minimum while retaining privacy with suspended copper cables for ‘walls,’” Wang describes.
In the circular balcony suspended over Isono, diners also have the best seats to enjoy film projections that play on the high walls. The translucent glass around the perimeter in return allows Isono’s diners to observe the movement and lighting of the floor above while keeping Vasco secluded. “Vasco is more intimate and allows diners to enjoy the sumptuous tasting menus with enhanced privacy,” Wang says.
