KITCHEN LAO : FASHION ISLAND

A Contemporary Thai–Lao Restaurant Design with Bold Local Character

Category : F&B

Design by : Collective Studio

Constructed by : D-Charearn

Location : Bangkok

Area : 80 sq.m.

Year : 2017

Photo Credit : Kopchai Limpanataywin

Food is culture.

Across Southeast Asia, the cuisines of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia have always shared deep cultural roots. The flavors, ingredients, and traditions may evolve differently across regions, but they remain connected through generations of shared history and everyday life.

That idea became the quiet starting point behind the design of Kitchen Lao—a restaurant that celebrates the rich, vibrant atmosphere of Thai–Lao cuisine without trying to separate cultural identity into rigid boundaries.

Because in reality, whether the restaurant is called “Lao,” uses Thai-inspired tones, or serves papaya salad from a Cambodian mortar… it all belongs to the same beautifully connected culinary culture.

The Project Brief

This project involved renovating an existing restaurant space inside Fashion Island.

The client faced several important constraints:

• The renovation had to be completed quickly

• The budget was limited

• Many elements from the previous tenant needed to be preserved and reused

• But at the same time… the space still had to carry “The Collective Studio atmosphere”

  
  

And honestly—that challenge was exactly the fun part.

From Ordinary to Flavorful

The original restaurant interior felt visually flat and disconnected from the bold, energetic character of Northeastern Thai cuisine.

So we began by redefining the atmosphere through material selection, color tones, and visual storytelling.

The palette was inspired by traditional Thai tones and local materials, creating warmth and richness while remaining approachable and contemporary.

Natural materials were introduced throughout the restaurant in a clean and simple composition, while carefully placed accents helped create rhythm and dimensionality within the space.

Design Within Constraints

This project was designed around:

• Existing architectural conditions

• Limited renovation budgets

• Short construction timelines

But limitations do not prevent good design.

The challenge is simply understanding how to work harmoniously within them.

We focused on making thoughtful adjustments rather than excessive changes—preserving useful existing elements while introducing enough identity to completely transform the dining experience.

Graphic elements inspired by local ingredients and culinary culture were layered into the space, blending vernacular character with contemporary visual language.

Like Food, Design Has Many Levels

Interior design is not so different from food.

A grilled meat dish can cost anywhere between street-food prices and luxury hotel dining depending on the experience, atmosphere, and expectations surrounding it.

The same applies to restaurant interiors.

For this project, we intentionally added details in moderation—not too much, not too little—allowing the atmosphere and the food to support one another naturally.

Because when the environment, flavor, and experience feel balanced together, even a simple meal becomes memorable.

A Restaurant Full of Flavor

Kid Chen Lao ultimately became a restaurant that feels warm, vibrant, approachable, and unmistakably local—without relying on clichés or excessive decoration.

A place where the energy of Thai–Lao cuisine is reflected not only through taste, but through atmosphere as well.

If you ever visit Fashion Island, don’t forget to stop by and try it for yourself.

The queue might be long on weekends…

But trust us—it’s worth the wait.