NCDA disguises speakeasy bar as a traditional stamp shop in hong kong
all images courtesy of NC design and architecture

 

 

 

easily mistaken as a traditional chinese stamp shop, this inconspicuous destination in sheung wan, hong kong is disguised as a speakeasy bar and restaurant by NC design and architecture. the interior design of ‘mrs pound’ tells a fictional story of two lovers who meet in secret: ‘the restaurant’s namesake character mrs. pound was a renowned burlesque dancer in 1950’s shanghai. weary of the limelight, the glamorous femme fatale retires in 1960’s hong kong to seek refuge with her childhood love, the married mr. ming. an avid stamp collector, mr. ming sets up a neighborhood stamp shop as the perfect front to disguise mrs. pound’s speakeasy, their clandestine meeting spot.’

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the disguised façade is created through a the fictional narrative of two lovers who secretly reunite in midlife

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discretely perched on a sloping corner in hong kong’s famous antiques district

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the two spaces meet at the bar, where tiles slowly change in color from pink to green

 

 

 

with an area of 150 sqm, the intimate establishment seats 45 people where guests in the know, gain entry via a button on the concealed door, hidden within the illuminated vitrine. inside, the first horizontal dining space presents a vibrant color scheme of pink and green. the two colors have been split in the middle–differentiating the bar to the restaurant area– and simultaneously the room has been adorned with vintage photos and quirky paraphernalia belonging to the fictional characters.

 

 

from the mixtures of floor tiling, the retro LED lighting, delicate gold accents and the leather banquettes, the seamless integration between the feminine and masculine zones evokes a mysterious atmosphere and makes the space a compelling stage for dining out.

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references from the cult film classics of wong kar wai helps achieve a hybrid environment that fuses east and west

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the mirrored marqee lights (left) and the gymnastic ring lighting (right)

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upper dining area

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the speakeasy restaurant & bar offers a modern and playful spin on an asian fusion cuisine

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 a feminine glamour through the use pink leather banquettes

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the façade of mrs pound bar and restaurant