Sunda Dining

by Kerstin Thompson Architects & Figureground Architecture

Sunda Dining by Kerstin Thomposon Architects, in collaboration with Figureground Architecture, is a true celebration in the intrinsic beauty of architectural temporariness.

Sunda is a delicate metallic structure that occupies the gap between its two brick neighbours on Punch Lane. A readily demountable and reusable armature of scaffolding shrouded with layers of woven metal mesh forms a street lantern at night and houses intimate dining clusters over two levels. An open kitchen bar connects diners to the theatre of the grill and the skill of chefs in action.

Celebrating its temporariness, Sunda Dining is a delicate metallic structure that occupies the gap between its two brick neighbours on Punch Lane.

Designed as a ‘pop-up’, a temporary feel was intrinsic to the original design. Sunda features south-east Asian cuisine, so design references included paper lanterns which line the food laneways of Asia, which serve as both street lighting and signage. It holds 75 patrons in three dining areas which include communal tables.

Designed as a ‘pop-up’, a temporary feel was intrinsic to the original design.

Sunda appears as a lightweight infill structure suspended in the leftover space between – and contrasting with – existing and more enduring boundary brick walls of its neighbours. Wrapped in woven metal mesh and lit from inside it forms a glowing lantern in Punch Lane.

It provides an alternative to the highly refined interiors common to hospitality spaces in Melbourne. Inside feels loose and casual, somehow between inside and outside. The neighbouring red brick walls are central to the interior palette and enrich the restraint of the new structure.

Sunda appears as a lightweight infill structure suspended in the leftover space between.

The use of unpainted scaffold with exposed tube and coupler fixings, clamped on lighting, and raw timber finish, connotes the temporary while also accommodating the essential needs of the restaurant in a restrained manner. Custom stools and the off-form concrete bar enhance the comfort of the dining experience.

At Sunda the enjoyment of food is the central experience. The design provides a compelling armature for cooking, eating and drinking with the sharing of exceptional food at its heart.

The neighbouring red brick walls are central to the interior palette and enrich the restraint of the new structure.

As a temporary structure the design anticipates and allows for the consequential removal (and on-selling) of the main structural system post its current use as restaurant. A steel scaffold system was the perfect option for realising this: readily available, easy to install, easy to remove and reutilise therefore minimising the wastage otherwise associated with temporary structures and hospitality fit-outs.

At Sunda Dining the enjoyment of food is the central experience.

Sunda Dining by Figureground Architecture, in collaboration with Kerstin Thompson Architects, received a commendation in the 2018 Eat Drink Design Awards for best restaurant design and was also shortlisted in the hospitality category at the 2018 IDEA Awards.

Figureground Architecture, in collaboration with Kerstin Thompson Architects, received critical acclaim for their design of Sunda Dining.

To view more Figureground inspired architecture & interior design archives head to their TLP Designer Profile Page.

Keep up to date with The Local Project’s latest interviews, project overviews, collections releases and more – view our TLP Articles & News.

Explore more design, interior & architecture archives in our TLP Archives Gallery.

Sunda Dining by Kerstin Thomposon Architects, in collaboration with Figureground Architecture, is a true celebration in the intrinsic beauty of architectural temporariness.

Sunda is a delicate metallic structure that occupies the gap between its two brick neighbours on Punch Lane. A readily demountable and reusable armature of scaffolding shrouded with layers of woven metal mesh forms a street lantern at night and houses intimate dining clusters over two levels. An open kitchen bar connects diners to the theatre of the grill and the skill of chefs in action.

Celebrating its temporariness, Sunda Dining is a delicate metallic structure that occupies the gap between its two brick neighbours on Punch Lane.

Designed as a ‘pop-up’, a temporary feel was intrinsic to the original design. Sunda features south-east Asian cuisine, so design references included paper lanterns which line the food laneways of Asia, which serve as both street lighting and signage. It holds 75 patrons in three dining areas which include communal tables.

Designed as a ‘pop-up’, a temporary feel was intrinsic to the original design.

Sunda appears as a lightweight infill structure suspended in the leftover space between – and contrasting with – existing and more enduring boundary brick walls of its neighbours. Wrapped in woven metal mesh and lit from inside it forms a glowing lantern in Punch Lane.

It provides an alternative to the highly refined interiors common to hospitality spaces in Melbourne. Inside feels loose and casual, somehow between inside and outside. The neighbouring red brick walls are central to the interior palette and enrich the restraint of the new structure.

Sunda appears as a lightweight infill structure suspended in the leftover space between.

The use of unpainted scaffold with exposed tube and coupler fixings, clamped on lighting, and raw timber finish, connotes the temporary while also accommodating the essential needs of the restaurant in a restrained manner. Custom stools and the off-form concrete bar enhance the comfort of the dining experience.

At Sunda the enjoyment of food is the central experience. The design provides a compelling armature for cooking, eating and drinking with the sharing of exceptional food at its heart.

The neighbouring red brick walls are central to the interior palette and enrich the restraint of the new structure.

As a temporary structure the design anticipates and allows for the consequential removal (and on-selling) of the main structural system post its current use as restaurant. A steel scaffold system was the perfect option for realising this: readily available, easy to install, easy to remove and reutilise therefore minimising the wastage otherwise associated with temporary structures and hospitality fit-outs.

At Sunda Dining the enjoyment of food is the central experience.

Sunda Dining by Figureground Architecture, in collaboration with Kerstin Thompson Architects, received a commendation in the 2018 Eat Drink Design Awards for best restaurant design and was also shortlisted in the hospitality category at the 2018 IDEA Awards.

Figureground Architecture, in collaboration with Kerstin Thompson Architects, received critical acclaim for their design of Sunda Dining.

To view more Figureground inspired architecture & interior design archives head to their TLP Designer Profile Page.

Keep up to date with The Local Project’s latest interviews, project overviews, collections releases and more – view our TLP Articles & News.

Explore more design, interior & architecture archives in our TLP Archives Gallery.