Tikka Charcoal Grill

Olbos Studio designs Asian fusion restaurant as an underwater ecosystem 

Olbos Studio www.olbosstudio.com completes Tikka Charcoal Grill, celebrating Asian fusion with an elegant, contemporary twist. Designed to host chic or playful moments, the restaurant welcomes its guests to a relaxing, intimate space that recalls an underwater ecosystem, with shimmering Italian tiles, water ripples and Viabizzuno N55 lights alluding to jelly fish.
 
Since entering, patrons are submerged in a teal blue vestibule, with an inviting peach-colored floor insertion in the darker blue micro-cement floor. The double height volume of the restaurant appears proportionate thanks to four drop-down pill-shaped ceiling volumes that define four different privet rooms that can be reserved for twelve, six and two people and are reflected in the floor layout by Verde Antigua and Mediterranean Blue marble slabs. Each virtual room feels very intimate from inside, where mood lights can be changed independently. From the outside, the see-through aluminium curtains make them look like lanterns or coral reef clusters populated with luminescent presence.
 
The bar design gives a voluptuous backdrop to the restaurant, with three silver micro-cement arches and glass shelves securing a wide collection of rums and other interesting ingredients for the restaurant’s unique drinks. The counter is covered by a three-dimensional overlapping of Calathea tiles by Acquario Due in four shades of blue, the top in Mediterranean Blue marble is reflected by rippled stainless steel slabs applied to the ceiling, simulating the movement of the ocean.
 
One of the challenges the designers had to face with the layout was the client’s request to create interchangeable environments, both in order to maximize the available space and to ensure the flexibility to rearrange the tables’ disposition needs as well as the atmosphere of the events that will be taking place at the venue - from fine dining to larger corporate events, weddings and other parties. In answer to this, not only the four privet rooms can easily be rearranged thanks to the aluminium curtains, but the restaurant is also connected to a larger event space beyond an acoustic folding partition covered by a different wallpaper on each side.
 
The squared event space is characterized by a neutral color palette and sober finishes which will grant a higher degree of customization in the decor design of each occasion to be hosted. The floor is finished with ivory micro-cement; tridimensional MDF panels from Italy are applied to the walls. The circular light fixtures at the center of the space were designed in collaboration with Brooklyn-based Italian artist from Runners and Capers.
 
The three bathrooms are an experience of their own, each aligning with the narrative of the underwater ecosystem thanks to the ceiling application of the metallic water ripple panels. One presents dark blue Pavoncella tiles by Acquario Due with coral colored sinks and toilets, one is the perfect representation of an algae forest, with mesmerizing green elements, one presents softer peachy and golden tones.
 
Credits
Project name:                     Tikka Charcoal Grill
Location:                               200 Broadway Mall, Hicksville, NY
Architect:                              Olbos Studio
Project team:                      Giorgia Cedro, Riccardo Zocche
Client:                                      Nasrin Chowdhury, Ruma Uddin
Date:                                         September 2023
GFA:                                          4736 square feet
Contractor:                          Dumani Construction
Photographer:                   © Filippo Tommasoli