Pintoh, named so after the Laos version of a tiffin or lunch box, is a glimpse into the food culture of Lao and Isan.
Stepping out of Melbourne, one can find elements of this pintoh all around; from the custom lighting, to the steel frames around the seating banquettes and colour palette, the interior embraces this simple item and puts the spotlight on it.
Our brief was to establish an authentic Laos restaurant that celebrated the spicy, colourful food of Laos.We quickly identified the pintoh itself as central to our design inspiration. We wanted to incorporate natural, organic textures in a colour-drenched setting, while paying tribute to the humble pintoh.
As the site is very long and narrow it was necessary to break it up with a variation of seating. So we implemented banquette seating with steel frames that mimic the shape of the pintoh as well as wooden stools and farmhouse-style chairs that connect to the colour palette on the timber-cladded walls.
The colour palette drew its inspiration from the food itself. The colours used throughout the interior are representative of the muted versions of the spice palette used in traditional Laotian food.
