Tun Jugah Food Court

Completed: 2015

The Tun Jugah Food Gallery was the generic shopping mall food court; something for everyone after a day of shopping. In recent years, the retail mix and the clientele have changed to young professionals wanting a conducive environment for a working lunch.

We recreated the feeling of eating street food; at the market and along the five foot way. The silhouette of the concertina grilles allude to the Chinatown shop fronts while the incandescent bulbs are reminiscent of the night market. Everyday items usually seen in coffee shops are used in un-usual ways – plastic stools become the ceiling and screens for the dining rooms while enamel crockery from the 70’s are used as part of signage and decor.

We designed furniture using cleaner lines to remind patrons of their school days – sitting on long benches, sharing food and stories – ‘them days’ when everything was better. It is more than a renovation because it goes beyond the skin – it is more like a coming of age.