Commissioned to redefine Le Du in honour of its recognition as the Best Restaurant in Asia and the milestone of its 10th anniversary, our design approach seeks harmony with Chef Ton's exceptional culinary creations. 'Le Du,' meaning 'Seasons' in Thai, embodies our celebration of the unique tapestry of flavours and colours unfolding with each passing season. Inspired by his dedication to globalizing and enhancing Thai cuisine, seamlessly incorporating local ingredients and drawing inspiration from native dishes, Chef Ton transforms them into contemporary expressions through inventive culinary and presentation techniques. Our design ethos aligns seamlessly with this innovative culinary perspective.
Confronted with the challenge of a low-ceiling space featuring an irregular beam pattern, we dismissed the conventional concealment approach. Instead, we embraced the irregularity of the beams, drawing an unexpected connection to the berm patterns found in Thai rice fields—a pivotal reference shaping the design's inception.
At the core of the restaurant's design is a site-specific ceiling installation, meticulously crafted to capture the beauty of Thai rice fields across diverse seasons. Comprising thousands of glass tubes filled with curated Thai 'seasonings' and beads, suspended in curves, and seamlessly integrated with glass tube lighting fixtures, Thai 'Seasonings' here become a visual representation of the changing 'seasons' in Thai rice plantation landscapes.
Thoughtfully representing each season, the fiery red of dry chili embodies the hot season, while the verdant green of pandan leaves, Kaffir Lime Leaves, and green beans mirrors the rainy season. The golden glow of soybeans, golden rice, and caraway captures the essence of winter in the rice field. Guests' culinary journey into the space corresponds with the rice farming ritual, transitioning from the seeding period in the Hot Season at the entrance to the Rainy Season and the harvesting season of Winter as they proceed into the dining area.
In essence, this installation transforms the intrinsic beauty of Thai rice fields across seasons into a visually and experientially captivating ceiling installation, creating a multisensory intersection of design and gastronomy. LEDU's design embodies our collaborative creative approach with Chef Ton—utilizing Thai materials, drawing inspiration from local narratives, and redefining them with contemporary techniques.