Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2020
Tuya Restaurant
by Mihai Popescu and Ovidiu Balan
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Twins Studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 29,572
- Verification code D2CB33FC9A · Verify this award
About Tuya Restaurant
Tuya is a restaurant and bar interior set in a heritage building in Vienna, Austria. The design spreads over two floors and creates an informal and elegant atmosphere. The Art Deco and Postmodern character of the original space is preserved by keeping the circular stair and a large part of the existing marble floor. Wall coverings are made of solid beech wood, cut with a CNC machine into triangular stripes. A ceiling installation is formed by more than 3000 glass tubes. The terrazzo floor is divided by brass profiles.
Twins Studio's award-winning Tuya Restaurant represents a distinguished contribution to contemporary hospitality design, engaging traditions of theatrical dining environments while articulating a distinctly modern spatial vocabulary. The installation demonstrates remarkable command of material palette, orchestrating warm-toned wood paneling, sumptuous velvet upholstery in complementary teal and ochre tones, and an extraordinary crystalline chandelier system that transforms functional illumination into sculptural centerpiece. The designers appear to draw upon mid-century glamour traditions, perhaps evoking the sophisticated supper clubs of a previous era while reinterpreting such references through contemporary material sensibilities and spatial organization. The symmetrical composition creates processional movement through the space, inviting guests along a carefully choreographed visual journey that culminates in intimate seating alcoves. Particular accomplishment may be observed in the integration of geometric floor pattern with overhead light formations, establishing rhythmic visual dialogue between horizontal and vertical planes. The chromatic decisions suggest careful consideration of how warm metallics and wood tones create psychological comfort while cool teal upholstery provides sophisticated counterpoint. The chandelier installation itself merits extended attention, its cascading tubular elements creating the impression of frozen rainfall or crystallized light, transforming ceiling plane into dynamic sculptural field. Technical facility appears throughout in the precise alignment of architectural elements, the thoughtful proportion of seating arrangements, and the calibrated balance between dramatic statement and functional hospitality requirements. This work invites contemplation of how material choices and spatial organization might elevate the act of communal dining into aesthetic experience, suggesting that thoughtful design transforms quotidian activities into memorable encounters with beauty.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Integrating typical Austrian architecture, the design creates an informal atmosphere over two floors and brings to mind the wonderful French Riviera.
The main visual idea which the design followed was to enhance the subtle Art Deco and Postmodern character of the initial space in which the great Austrian architect and designer Hans Hollein left his imprint. It is the 70's mood and atmosphere in which you will find yourself projected when you enter. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The public area of the restaurant is 600 square meters and staff area, including kitchen and changing rooms, are 400 square meters.
- Tags
- design, designer, restaurant, bar, interior, Tuya, Vienna, Bucharest
- Production Technology
- All the production was made in Romania, on our workshop and with our collaborators.
Wall coverings entirely made from solid beech wood , using a CNC machine to obtain the triangular stripes.
More than 3000 glass tubes, cut at different dimension each, to obtain the installation on the ceiling.
Terrazzo floor with more than 3 km of brass profile inside, to separate the different colors. - Design Challenge
- Being a heritage building, the hardest part was to not alter its character with our design; this translates mainly in keeping intact the circular stair, built by the Austrian architect Hans Hollein, a big portion of the existing marble floor and trying our best to match and integrate all important existing elements with the design.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2018 and finished in June 2019; it is located in Vienna, Austria.
- Operation Flow
- The main areas are separated as following:
basement, Restrooms
ground floor, Bar and Lounge area
first floor, Restaurant area - Research
- Almost all elements composing the design are custom made. For each of them we made prototypes, trying to meet the standards and, not the least, to produce the expected image.
- Inspiration
- When we were commissioned by our clients, their main interest was to create a destination restaurant, where you'll come from everywhere and have a wonderful time in an elegant space.
With this in mind, our main sources of inspiration were the 70's, with their elegant restaurants and Art Deco elements, that were suggested by the building's character.
Colors of Tuya Restaurant
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