An Authentic Singaporean Experience: The Coconut Club by Nice Projects.

London-based design studio Nice Projects’ latest interior, The Coconut Club, reimagines the humble Nasi Lemak stall, a place where diners can immerse themselves in an authentic Singaporean experience, within a cosy and communal setting.

Inspired by the restaurant’s signature dish, the Nasi Lemak, the design taps into what it means to be Singaporean, representing a mix of cultures, voices and flavours. “We wanted to create a space where good design connects with Singapore’s history and traditions, and celebrates the country’s natural materials, local makers and creatives,” says Nice Projects co-principal, Sacha Leong.

All of the materials for the restaurant were sourced from the region, including sustainable products such as cork, rattan and ceramics. “By working with local craftspeople and tradespeople and using locally-available materials, we were able to minimise the carbon footprint of the build,” elaborates Sacha’s counterpart, Simone McEwan. “The tiles came from Vietnam. The custom banquettes and rattan pendants were hand woven by craftspeople in Indonesia. The chairs and stools were sourced from Malaysia.”

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A large woven rattan banquette lines the walls and provides generous seating, while oversized woven rattan hanging pendants cover the ceiling. Making the materiality work for them, cork panelling on the walls and tabletops provides extra sound absorption sitting alongside a mix of glazed and unglazed ceramic tiles creating a striking graphic pattern to the walls.

Local textile studio Tanchen Studio produced a beaded curtain for the project, meticulously crafted using wooden and bamboo beads. The impressive work is a reference and celebration of the traditional beaded curtains found in Singaporean homes.

Stripped back, the intentionally modest design celebrates local materials and makers while making a statement against Singapore’s (and the world’s for that matter) overt consumerism. “Our ambition was to design the quintessential Singaporean all-day restaurant that champions local cuisine and heritage. We wanted to create a contemporary Southeast Asian aesthetic that celebrated regional crafts, without resorting to obvious tropical tropes,” concludes Sacha.

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[Images courtesy of Nice Projects. Photography by Lisa Cohen.]