For Kekou Restaurant, the brief was to create a distinctive restaurant and bar that complemented its Asian fusion menu and craft beer offering, while celebrating the history and character already embedded within the building.

Rather than concealing the existing structure, we embraced it as an integral part of the design. During the process, charred exposed rafters from a fire many years earlier were uncovered. Their texture and history became an unexpected feature, inspiring us to further char additional beams to create a cohesive and dramatic ceiling treatment throughout the space.

The existing worn and weathered walls were another element we wanted to preserve. Their imperfections told a story and brought an authenticity that couldn't be recreated with new materials. An artist was engaged to carefully extend and enhance the existing finish, allowing its aged beauty and character to continue throughout the restaurant.

Recycled timber played a significant role in the design, with a collection of old railway sleepers sourced by the client re-purposed to form the bar. The result is a layered and atmospheric interior that celebrates raw materials, craftsmanship and the building's history, while creating a unique backdrop for the Kekou dining experience.