Odette Restaurant at the Singapore National Art Gallery by Universal Design Studio.

Feminine and refined, Singapore’s latest dining spot, Odette Restaurant, is as elegant as the French grandmother it is named after. Designed by Universal Design Studio, the restaurant is located within the National Art Gallery, the home to Singapore’s art collection.

Named in tribute of head chef Julien Royer’s family matriarch, the design of the space is influenced by Royer’s subtle and delicate cooking style. Materials are used in simple and authentic ways, respecting their integrity and purity to create a soft and feminine space that celebrates craftsmanship. The light ambience is achieved with a soft pastel colour palette, natural oak timber, marble terrazzo with pastel pink grout, pink marble, and accents of nickel and brass. With plenty of natural light, the materials take on a lofty shine which accentuates their natural qualities. Custom-made ceramic plates from Spain and Bali, glass bowls from Japan and copper pots from France add to the handcrafted appeal and softness.

Odette’s artful location significantly influenced the design. The Palladian bones of the space – a Colonial Era classical building, formerly the Supreme Court House of Singapore – are refreshed and accentuated with a fresh white paint finish. The formality of Palladian geometry is continued throughout the new design including the booth seating, columns and arched zoning.

Universal Design Studio collaborated with Dawn Ng, a local Singaporean artist who created the delicate mobile centrepiece using oak, brass and paper. Ng zoomed in on aerial photographs of Royer’s dishes and raw ingredients, to develop a textured colour palette of ‘Skin, Blush and Dust’ for the centrepiece, as well as the branding and overall design.

[Images courtesy of Universal Design Studio. Photography by Jovian Lim.]