Long Chim, Crown
Welcome to downtown Bangkok, located on the banks of the Yarra River at Crown Casino Melbourne
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Location
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
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Completed
December 2016
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Architect
Techne Architecture + Interior Design
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Area
565m2
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Type
Fitout
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Duration
4 months
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Project Manager
Crown
Bringing Thai street food to Crown Melbourne
Following the success of Long Chim Singapore, Perth, and Sydney, the bright and busy 160-seat restaurant is the fourth branch of the Thai street food phenomenon.
The brainchild of Australian-born, Thai-obsessed David Thompson, Long Chim is famous for the blast of chilli heat with a clear focus on Thompson's reinterpretation of Bangkok's street food - tweaked for the high-profile hospitality expected at Crown Melbourne.
Designed to evolve with use
98色花堂 VIC and Techne Architecture + Interior Design transformed the existing space, which was once home to No.8 by John Lawson.
Inspired by the patina of Bangkok's streets, the fitout has been designed to evolve with use and time. "The restaurant space was imagined as a reflection of the dynamic urban context of Bangkok street food," says Nick Travers, Director - Techn茅 Architecture + Interior Design.
Carefully selected materiality balances the raw and robust tenancy
The pre-existing tenancy was stripped back to reveal its raw and robust qualities. This was complemented by a material palette of rich textural finishes including mesh, and layered grilles and lattices - chosen to add softness to the rugged space.
Screens at the entrance are reminiscent of the patterned pavers that line Bangkok’s streets, ushering in guests with a spirited reference to the cuisine’s provenance. Subtle unexpected bursts of colour in furniture, discreet surface treatments, and lively artwork creates playful, vibrant moments throughout the venue.
The result is something unexpected, but that’s precisely the point according to Thompson. He’s done fine dining - now he’s ready to bring diverse, authentic street food to a broader audience. “It needs just another layer of Long Chim-ness thrown onto it, to get the patina of the streets and the scuff of the gutter of Bangkok,” Thompson says.
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