The new bistro located beside the railway in Prague is a project that masterfully captures the essence of authentic Vietnamese street food within an urban context. Revamping a former Chinese restaurant, the design aims to evoke the raw, vibrant atmosphere of Asian street life, infused with a Czech interpretation that avoids clichés and superficial aesthetics. The open-plan layout enhances the fluidity between the kitchen and dining area, promoting a seamless interaction that echoes the communal spirit of street food culture.

Materiality plays a crucial role in conveying this theme, with a dominant red-tiled block subtly referencing Asian palettes, complemented by natural greys and whites of industrial materials—steel countertops, scraped walls, rubber flooring, and glazed partitions. The lighting scheme, featuring pendant lights with warm, cozy illumination and bespoke neon signs with Asian motifs, enriches the intimate ambiance, while greenery and exposed wiring add layers of authenticity and texture. The use of industrial elements, such as rubber flooring and translucent PVC curtains, further emphasizes the raw, imperfect aesthetic.

Finally, an intentional preservation of the building's process—paint stains, workmen’s notes, and imperfections—celebrates the artisanship and improvisation involved in construction. Working closely with a construction team and graphic designers, the project integrates visual identity with a tactile, unpolished charm. For architects, this approach exemplifies how cultural storytelling through materiality, layout, and process can create an engaging, authentic space that respects tradition while maintaining contemporary relevance.