Mosaic Architecture + Design has given Ka Pao, the new restaurant housed in the basement of the recently converted Botanic Gardens Garage on Vinicombe Street in Glasgow’s West End, a distinctly South East Asian look and feel to complement its menu.
Run by the company behind the popular Kelvingrove restaurant Ox and Finch, Ka Pao, which accommodates 120 covers with a separate bar area, has been designed by Stuart Black, Head of Interior Design at Mosaic, who was also responsible for the interiors of Ox and Finch.
Commenting on the restaurant’s design, Black said: “Following the success in designing sister restaurant Ox & Finch, we were appointed by Scoop Restaurants to provide architecture and interior design services for the latest addition to its portfolio, Ka Pao, a 200 capacity bar Restaurant with a £1m project cost located within the basement unit of the Grade A listed Botanic Garden Garage development.
“Thanks to existing and reclaimed white ceramic brick walls and a full elevation of crittal style glazing running down the length of the restaurant, the space is unusually bright and airy for a basement unit.
“An industrial mix of white-washed concrete soffits, galvanized steel services, poured cement floors softened with live planting, reclaimed furniture, decorative and intelligent lighting contrast with bold pops of colour, earthy hand fired and glazed tiles, creating a vibrant colourful and richly illuminated interior that has both a juxtapose and always-been there relationship with the building.”
Mosaic Director Stephen Mallon added: “The former Arnold Clark Garage was and is a beautiful listed building and the insertion of Ka Pao has blended effortlessly well with the industrial aesthetic of the of the original interior.
“It was, once again, a pleasure working with Jonathan and his team and we look forward to continuing to do so on further exciting developments planned for this year.”
Commenting on the contribution made by Mosaic, Jonathan MacDonald, owner and chef, said: “There were various technical challenges that came with fitting out a new restaurant in the basement of the Botanic Gardens Garage. As the client, we had a clear vision of the vibe that we wanted to create in the space and how we wanted the restaurant to function operationally. Mosaic took on our brief and we’re delighted with how Ka Pao has turned out!
“Stuart, Andrew and the team at Mosaic have been a pleasure to work with on Ka Pao. They offer a great mix of technical and project management expertise, combined with creativity and flair for designing fantastic looking and functional interiors. It’s great to work with a design team that are as truly passionate about a new restaurant project as we are, and who work with such dedication and attention to detail.”
The name Ka Pao derives from the Thai word for Holy Basil.