goCstudio recently designed The Kati, a vegan Thai restaurant located in a former pub space sited in South Lake Union, a rapidly developing neighborhood and center of Seattle's booming tech industry. Filling a need for healthy and flavorful vegan food in the area, Kati features locally sourced and organic plant-based dishes and is guided by the simplicity of ingredient and technique.
Understanding the desire of the Kati team to 'keep it simple,' goCstudio transformed the dark and oppressive interior into a bright, open, and accessible space using high-quality materials and craftsmanship. A bright yellow Heath tile buffet wall and bar act as cheery anchors to the space, while a nearly 16' wood wall offers warmth and texture. A collection of pendant lights recall Thailand's sky-lantern festival and offer gentle mood lighting to the restaurant guests.
In this space, it is the accumulation of small statements (including under-bar coat hooks peeled from the supporting steel beam, a monolithic buffet, custom-built white-oak tables, and a 'stained glass' bar), rather than large gestures, that come together to offer a unique dining experience.
Photography: Aaron Leitz