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    • Design

    Rasm—An exceptional culinary experience designed by Studio VDGA weaving the imprints of Indian culture in Vietnam

    AUG 7, 2021 | By Kashish Kaushal
    Worn-out wooden mirror frames in assorted shapes are strategically assembled on the walls; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The discarded textile printing blocks form the face of the bar counter; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The idea was to highlight one element and keep the remaining items subdued. The landscape elements peeping out of the golden screens balance the overall ambience; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    Woven by the local craftsmen in the villages of north India, the filigree facade imparts an Indian character to the space; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    Plush velvet sofas, colourful leather upholstered chairs and woven wooden benches form the indoor seating; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    Flooring inside the restaurant boasts of subtle plain IPS walls and terrazzo flooring in black and white patterns; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The site for Rasm was a set of twin-bungalows in a mixed use neighborhood area overlooking the beautiful West lake; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The indoors are for dining and lounging during extreme climates with controlled temperatures; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The main restaurant door was a salvaged door sourced from India; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki
    The name Rasm means culture and traditions, and in Indian culture gastronomy is the most important element; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    With the intent of serving a memorable culinary experience to the people of Vietnam, Studio VDGA has designed Rasm—a restaurant serving delectable Indian cuisine. Overlooking the beautiful West Lake in Hanoi this restaurant is nestled in the twin bungalows of a mixed use development area. It makes an everlasting first impression while catching the vision of the passers by on the busy and bustling lakefront road.

    The word ‘Rasm’ means culture and traditions which eventually became the brief of the restaurant. Lead designers Viplav Paithankar, co-founder Deepak Guggari and associate architect Rashi Sanson were entrusted with the task to impart an Indian-ness to the space and match the ambience as well as interiors with the country’s ethos. One of their first steps while designing the restaurant was to give its facade a grand makeover. “There was a need to convert the discreet facade of the twin houses to something that not only imparts an identity to the mundane skyline but also attracts attention away from the west lake”, shares Sanson. 

    Finally, team Studio VDGA embarked upon the idea of creating a porous facade demarcating the outdoor area of the restaurant and facilitating the views of the lake. They have recreated golden zari work, often found on sarees, a traditional Indian wear. Christened Golden Veil, the golden metal wire moulded into Indian motifs forms the restaurant’s 30 feet facade. 

    The hand-woven filigree screens support and uplift the work of the local craftspeople by reinstating their art in foreign land. It promotes the Indian handicraft which is at the risk of retiring in these modern times; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    Woven by the local craftsmen in the villages of north India, this filigree facade brings in a dash of glamour in the otherwise subdued surroundings. The landscape elements peeping out of these golden screens harmonise with the overall ambience. 

    To make the Golden Veil a fabrication frame-work was erected on site. Metal chains were suspended from it. Team Studio VDGA chose a few patterns for the filigree façade and formed small panels of those. These panels were then hooked on the suspended metal chains in order to distribute the load and stress; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    Rasm provides a different ambience at day and night. While during the day, the sunbeams filtering through the screens form interesting patterns on the grey natural stone flooring, the screen shimmers at night by means of the lights directed at it. 

    Maximum seating was planned for outdoors where the maximum footfall is anticipated; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    The outdoor seating comprises rustic cast in-situ benches and woven rope chord chairs, complementing the theme. Plush velvet sofas, colourful leather upholstered chairs and woven wooden benches form the indoor seating.

    Removing walls and physically combining the areas was achieved with ease by Studio VDGA. Staircase of each bungalow allowed them to segregate customer and service access to upper floors; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    “Vietnam is a year-round tourist destination and as a result, restaurants never go dry. The people often prefer outdoor seating, especially when they have a beautiful view of the lake. With this in mind the outdoor foreground gets importance in our planning. The indoors are for dining and lounging during extreme climates with controlled temperatures,” divulges Sanson. 

    Various elements of the interiors such as the doors, railings, wall panelling have been picked up from the local bazaars of Rajasthan and restored on site; Photographs by Hiro Yuki Oki

    The bar counter face has wooden cast dye blocks and brass shelves backdrop. Frost glass and brass wire chandeliers impart sheen to the interior ambience. While the interiors boast of subtle plain Indian patent stone walls and terrazzo flooring in black and white patterns, the outdoor is a mix of vacuum-dewatered floors and grey stone flooring, broken by aggregate beds. 

    Being an Indian restaurant overseas, Studio VDGA made a conscious effort to bring Indian elements in the interiors. From the moment you step into Rasm, to the instant you step out, it is designed to encapsulate you in a  time warp, where you are instantly taken to a distant land in India. The design is a true testimony to all things Indian!

    If you find this restaurant design inspiring, make sure you catch a glimpse of this idyllic gateway along Vietnam’s coast designed by Studio HBA!