WOOD: As we began to look into Indonesian design and culture we notice that wood is a large part of both their culture and architecture. From Intricate carvings, fabrics, wooden furniture and religious ceremonies, wood is seen almost everywhere. This was a major design element I chose to work with. At first glance, you notice that the restaurant is almost entirely wood. A unique three-dimensional wooden veneer is applied to a majority of the walls. The second type of wood is applied to the ceilings in a linear pattern complement the height of the sloping roof. This adds a sense of warmth, depth, and interest to the space.

FABRICS: A neutral colour scheme is also pulled from traditional Indonesian batik fabrics. Often seen in shades of brown or red, this complex art of designing fabrics is widespread around the Indonesian islands.

 

RICE: Along with wooden influences, we might also notice that rice is a major staple food item in Indonesian cuisine. In Indonesia, rice is an extremely abundant and common food item, served with just about anything. As a product in such high demand, a large portion of Indonesia’s landscape consists of rice fields, also commonly known as “rice paddles”. 

 

With this being said, we managed to incorporate rice fields into the design of the space in more ways than one. The first incorporation is seen in the form of 2 water features. The first small water feature is located just to the right as diners enter the dining area. The second is much larger in scale, located on almost the entire length of the West wall, and is designed to be one of the first things a diner sees when entering the space. These features resemble the formation, structure and free-flowing curves od Indonesian rice fields. They provide not only the calming sound of flowing water, but as a truly authentic Indonesian element to the restaurant atmosphere.

 

The second rice field incorporation is seen in the name of the restaurant. The word “Tangga” is derived from the Indonesian word meaning “steps”. In the Indonesian landscape, a rice field resembles a large stepped formation, which makes the name “Tangga” an appropriate choice. As a result, line and shape within my design have been influenced by the massive but subtle, free-flowing curved of Indonesian rice field