Restaurant Design : Fou Zoo by SAD Architects

For the Asian restaurant Fou Zoo located in the large borough of Petrzalka in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, SAD Architects was asked to create a distict space that would set the restaurant apart from the surrounding houses. The result is a modern and trendy lounge setting with various Japanese-inspired design elements.

The 4,000-square-feet restaurant has a Zen garden-like ambiance and the space was largely constructed from natural materials that include stone and wood. A perimeter of twisted plywood slats with an organic look acts as a fence that shields the interior from the outside. The floors in the dining areas are a combination of a charcoal-hued stone and teak, and two boulder-like compartments house the sushi and beverage bars.

Recess light fixtures as well as discreet floor lighting in the restaurant offer a swank touch while the surrounding plywood fence limits the amount of natural light that seeps into the space, creating a sexy and moody effect throughout. A wall is also lined with a series of monochrome LED screens.

Custom-made furnishings for the restaurant include concrete-slab-topped table with oak legs, curvilinear armchairs, and teak banquettes. Mid-century pieces also dot the space.