Momo Asian Bar | ARCHFORM architects

Location: Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
Type: Bar   
Project area: 260 sq. m
Project year: 2022
Graphic design: BRAND LOOK

ABOUT

The Asian restaurant Momo Asian Bar - Sushi & Wok is a portal for a culinary journey from Europe to Asia.
The total area of the restaurant is 180 sq. m., the dining space is divided in 3 areas creating a total of 64 seats and the open terrace disignet 44 seats.

The open-plan kitchen welcomes the customers, the bar counter brings the restaurant rooms together and facilitates the staff's work with their clients, while the artificial lighting of the restaurant's remote rooms mimics street lighting, expanding the imaginary space and filling it with soft light.

The interior of the restaurant is visually divided into 3 halls. In the first, in addition to the bar counter, there is a hearth - a candle fireplace, which creates coziness and a homely atmosphere every evening. The design is made of black metal sheet, and the candle area itself is lined with stainless steel, which effectively reflects light from the candle flame. A part of the hall faces the main faсade and is 5 m high. Here, above the tables, there is a decorative composition of circles made in papier-mache technique by the artist Victoria Peeva. The effect of crumpled paper refers to the beauty of something imperfect and fleeting away.

The interior design of the second hall is distinguished by a light pannel framed by round metal elements. This solution was taken to hide a part of the building structures protruding from the ceiling and it creates artificial daylight.

Small events can be held in a detached room for 12 people, the entrance to which is limited by Pivot doors with a carved symbol of the lotus flower mandala. A composition of decorative elements and lamps hangs above the table, it is stylized as a Traditional Habutae Wagasa Umbrella made by artist Victoria Peeva.

CONCEPT

The concept of the Momo restaurant is based on the culture and traditions of Japan and Vietnam. The idea of the interior is based on mixing four elements in space:
Metal - used for the metallic constructions of the terrace and the entrance area, for the decoration of the fireplace, and for the artistic bionics of the wall and the ceiling cladding.
Wood - in the rough-hewn tables and doors carved by local craftsmen with the symbol of a rotating mandala.
Fire - found in the candlelit fireplace in the center of the restaurant.
Earth - reflected in the handmade bricks created especially for Momo, which mirror the brickwork of Vietnamese houses exposed to tropical humidity.