Saladang Song, Pasadena, California

An abstraction of Thai culture, Saladang Song consists of indoor and patio dining with an open kitchen on the ground floor, employee areas on the second floor, and a third floor penthouse apartment. The project’s design and name references the traditional Thai “sala,” a roadside pavilion used by travelers to rest and reflect. Enclosing the outdoor patio are monolithic concrete slabs, poured on site and raised into place, that are paired with ornate laser-cut steel screens inspired by traditional Thai textiles. Screening this space offers diners a sense of protection while still maintaining a strong relationship to the street.