Sawtelle Thai Restaurant, Los Angeles, California

TOLO architecture was the design architect and also produced the signage for this recently inaugurated Thai restaurant. Emporium Thai is located on Sawtelle Boulevard, an area known for its culturally authentic Asian restaurants and excellent cuisine. The project’s exterior is a play on the traditional roof shape of Thai houses. Its design captures sidewalk space for outdoor dining and creates a recognizable “decorated shed” for the building. The roof shape continues inside as a large linear skylight. The interiors combine wood, brass, warm whites and deep blues to connect to the rich material and color palettes of traditional Thai houses and artwork. An elephant mural, designed by TOLO, references Muybridge images, popular comic books and Thai arts and crafts.