Building upon traditions and methods passed down through the generations, Club Rangoon is a vibrant yet nostalgic Burmese restaurant in Singapore. Blending modern Burmese culture with authentic flavours, the new venue is located in a 19th century conservation shophouse on Duxton Road and imbues the essence of Burmese/South-east Asian culture staged in a contemporary setting.
Beginning life in Hong Kong as the city’s only Burmese restaurant focused on traditional dishes, Club Rangoon opened in August in Singapore and serves up a fresh take on Burmese cooking with a handcrafted, personal touch. Calling upon Hui Designs to transform the space, the client requested two aspects to be incorporated into the design: to retain the brand’s jade green colour, and to integrate ancestral photos into the space, the purpose of the second criterion being in order to pay reverence and show gratitude to owner Nelson’s great grandmother, grandmother, and mother, who always imparted invaluable secret family recipes to him.
Drawing inspiration from old-world rural farmhouses where the furniture and home interiors are first and foremost utilitarian and not simply for aesthetic purposes, interior designer Hui Lim set about creating a functional and interesting space. Today, the 850 square foot venue comprises a natural skylight located almost to the side and centre of the shophouse’s floor plate, with an open kitchen/chef’s counter situated directly below, which is sheltered by gridded timber trellises, casting light and shadow to the space, and becomes the focal point as diners enters the premises.
The back walls are clad in cartabon glazed tiles in split colours of verde and straw. The stand-alone service bar counter is strategically located diagonally across from the chef’s counter, so as to break-up the monotony of the dining space and giving the space a homely air.
As communal dining is paramount in Burmese culture, a round table was squeezed into the restaurant and placed in a space that’s further enhanced by a façade breeze block wall which somewhat wraps around the area. Walls were kept plain, rendered in ecru sand texture plaster to counter the vibrant tones of the breeze blocks and tiles, and raw-finished meranti wood was used for carpentry in order to infuse warmth. Loose furniture, such as dining chairs and high stools are custom-made, and were selected for their rural touch.
Inviting diners on a journey of ‘honest cooking meets a modern flair for Burmese flavours,’ Club Rangoon Singapore continues the traditions of generations in impeccable style.
Club Rangoon Singapore Photography, form practice.
