The site was originally a Radio Rentals shop, which upon demolition of the internal walls and suspended ceiling, an old lofted ceiling with original clerestory windows was discovered. The demolition also revealed that the building had survived a fire some time ago. The patina that this gave to the original brick walls and trusses was something that the designers wanted to retain.

The timber trusses in this portion were burnt but still structurally sound. Architects EAT addressed the structure, cleaned and insulated the roof without compromising the exposed lofty dining space. The rear extension had to be totally demolished because it was unfit for use.

The ambience aimed for is a Vietnamese hawker style eatery with a dash of kitsch. ‘Xeom’ are the ubiquitous motorbike taxis of Vietnamese, so the design is a nod to the street culture and urban bustle of Vietnam.

To recreate the ad hoc approach to street dining, Architects EAT created an array of dining experiences throughout the space. Two high tables with yellow canvas awnings along the shopfront creates a point of difference to the passing pedestrian traffic. Inside they created a flexible and open dining space through a mixture of banquette seating, long bench dining and canteen style tables.

Architects EAT utilized modular and common industrial materials such as cyclone fencing as partitioning and galvanized steel piping for joinery framing as a celebration of the urban.

Colour wise, the main emphasis was to provide a neutral canvas (the shell of the building) using the existing brickwork, timber trusses, timber flooring and plywood. Thereafter, Architects EAT integrated elements which were synonymous to the tapestry of Vietnamese street culture. They experimented and selected vernacular colours and textures of urban life.

The tones of the banquette cushions, the colourful umbrella and awnings, the de-constructed motorbike parts all tie the concept together. Finally the graphic artwork by Hue Studio creates further layer of playful reference to urban habitat of the Xeom.

The lighting allows a seamless switching from a lunch setting to a dinner setting. Industrial worklights that feature in the entry and toilets are a reference to motorbike culture.

Of particular interest is the Datum line of where previous suspended ceiling is retained and marks a clear distinction in the main dining space between the old and the new.

A favourite solution of the designers is the recycled woven plastic fabric used in the banquette seating cushions. This is a celebration of the ubiquitous use of the material in South East Asia. The material was especially sourced from Hong Kong by the builder to fabricate into the large cushions.

” The demolition of the former store and the patina of history that we discovered added to our initial vision of an urban hawker market,” commented Vicky Yuan of Architects EAT. “During lunch service, the clerestory windows illuminate the main dining space, giving the space an alfresco quality.”

Lawn chairs were specified from a local manufacturer as an affordable furniture solution. Again, this is a celebration of the vernacular and make do approach to street hawker dining in Vietnam.