Architect：H2R Design

Location：Dubai, United Arab Emirates; | ;

Category：Restaurants

H2R Design, the award-winning design studio creating renowned commercial and hospitality spaces, had the opportunity to design ASMA, a Middle Eastern restaurant, inspired by the mother of three Emirati siblings(entrepreneurs). The design theme of ASMApays homage totraditional kitchens of the region with a modernized and contemporary twist. ASMA embodies the roots of classicMiddle Eastern home cooking and the restaurantis designed to look as homely and welcoming as possible. 

With the idea to share their mother’s food to the world, the Three Emirati Siblings wanted the design of the restaurant to feel like ASMA; their mother and her actual home. They wanted the design to reflect the inviting spirit offering dinersan authentic and nostalgic experience. 

To achieve this, H2R Design was inspired to design a spacethat is timeless but can also be can be perceived as a modern heritagesite. The design had to include detailing and materials that are distinctive to the Arabian home, yet functional for a modern dining establishment. With these requirements at the forefront of their design journey, H2R Design studied kitchens of the past and brought the elements, textures, and tones together to create an all-embracing modern-day design to ASMA. 

Minut details are evident throughout the space, such as the copper detailing, linking the space to a conventional home kitchen with Arabic coffee pots, pans and large serving plates visible. Terracotta tiles decorate the concrete floors thatact as a tribute to old-styleMiddle Eastern kitchens while the wooden profile strips on the walls tie the space together. 

In addition to creating a homey ambiance within a mall unit, H2R Design had to refit and redesign all of the space to eliminate any of its historical retail remnants. Some of the major changes required included raising the floor for piping to be introduced, particularly for the bar and kitchen area. However, the majority of floor space had to be raised to ensure that the space functioned structurally and flowed seamlessly. Taking into consideration diners with special needs, a floor level area was also sectioned off to create comfortable access.  

When entering the restaurants, diners go through a foyer that gives ASMA a “sidewalk café” style effect where people can sit by the shopfront and have conversationsas other shoppers stroll by. 

The shape of the unit whichis long and slim created a challenge in accommodating a full-service kitchen - a central feature of the dining establishment. The aim was to make the kitchen a focal point with strategic access for operational tasks, as access to the back of the house was not readily available. 

Given that the underlying concept was to depict a traditional home, with the kitchen at the heart of the project, H2R Design chose to use a bold color in the visible front of the house section and the bar reinforcing the prominence of the area.Petrol blue tiles cover the bar’s exterior layer andstand out to bring a strong pop of colour into the overall space.While it is a striking color, the petrol blue tiles are also muted to blend into the neutral and desaturated background. 

Copper detailing is another important element throughout the design, with sections of it detectable either at the bottom of the bar, the pizza oven, the shelving or across the table centerpieces. The copper plays a subtle role, linking to old-style kitchen utensils and is a recurring motif in ASMA’s design concept.  

H2R Design also took into consideration seating and finding clever ways of maximizing the capacity in an elegant and harmonious way. A seamless flow of seating needed to be designed surrounding the kitchen positioned in the centre while not segregating the various spaces between the bar, banquette dining area and the movable tables and chairs.  This was achieved by moving the entrance foyer and by adding middle and back seating.

At the far and back end of the restaurant, H2R Design added terracotta backlit panels highlighting a semi-private seating area. With the use of the warm light, shadows and curves, this seating area softens the long dimensions of the overall space. 

The wood wicker chairs on the bar give the space a contemporary feel, adding more warmth, while contrasting against the pavement and concrete flooring and the marble countertops.

Artwork was also carefully selected to further articulate ASMA’s cultural concept of an authentic Middle Eastern kitchen. Images depicting a range of Jordanian, Egyptian, Lebanese, Syrian and Emirati scenes are spread across the restaurant adding to the Arabian flavors and flair. 

The addition of plants and accessories on shelving were also meticulously selected tocomplement the genuine charm of the space adding to the humble and welcoming ethos. 

The addition of wood throughout in the furniture as well as the profile strips on the wall give ASMA a modern heritage look, tying the space together. This helped keep the space naturally connected despite having a kitchen in the centre. 

Bespoke banquette seating with salmon pink, muted yellows and oranges also bring warmth adding to the relaxed dining experience.

ASMA embodies the roots oftraditional Emirati home cooking with a lightened and refreshed take to please the new generation of diners. ASMA offers a perfectly balanced experience, where tradition and modernity are realized into physical elements and are conveyed in the ambiance, design, food, music and service.

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