Interior view of a modern dining area with wooden panel walls, red cushioned booth seating, and circular pendant lights, as a person walks past in motion blur

Empereur 20 – Elia

SCOPE

For Elia, ncbham was tasked with a comprehensive makeover of the existing restaurant, kitchen, and lounge spaces, covering approximately 370m².

The goal was to create a contemporary and versatile environment that supports diverse activities, including dining, informal work, and meetings, with a more fluid transition between the different spaces.
A key aspect of the design was enhancing visibility and connection with the urban environment, taking advantage of the large existing windows facing Boulevard de l’Empereur.

Street view of a building façade with large arched windows revealing a warmly lit interior dining space; pedestrians and a cyclist blur by in motion.
Wide-angle shot of a contemporary cafeteria with light-colored walls, red bench seating, pale wood chairs, and geometric lighting fixtures.
Close-up of a corner seating area by tall windows, featuring red upholstered benches and small white round tables, softly lit by daylight.
Cozy corner in a dining area with a man working on a laptop at a table near a large window, under warm pendant lights and a soft ambient glow

DESIGN APPROACH

The existing spaces included a restaurant, a self-service area, a kitchen, a foyer, and a small office adjacent to a first-aid room. The layout was fairly non-intuitive, with the kitchen and sanitary blocks positioned in the center, physically separating the restaurant from the poorly used foyer.

The restaurant lacked visibility from the entry, with a neutral and uninviting ambiance, and repetitive, “canteen-style” furnishing that lacked identity.

Additionally, circulation around the self-service area was problematic, creating queues and disrupting the overall flow.

The design proposal focused on transforming these spaces into a more fluid and cohesive environment by:

- Optimizing circulation.
- Introducing openings to enhance transparency and transversality across the different spaces.
- Improving the restaurant’s visibility from the entrance, ensuring a unified and inviting experience.

Hand-drawn floor plan sketch of a restaurant space, showing labeled zones including Kitchen, Foyer, Passage, Self Service, and Restaurant, outlined in thick charcoal strokes on a white background.
Side-by-side comparison of two hand-drawn floor plans illustrating the existing (right) and projected (left) layouts of a restaurant space. The diagrams are color-coded to highlight zones such as Kitchen, Foyer, Passage, Self Service, and Restaurant, with the projected version also indicating spatial expansion.
Black and white image of a plain office hallway with closed wooden doors and tiled flooring Warm and modern cafe-style interior with large windows, round pendant lights, and a woman reading at a table. Black and white image of a dated common area with bar stools, tiled floors, and a curved counter. Bright, renovated interior with minimalist wooden paneling, red bench seating, and grid ceiling lighting Black and white photo of a traditional canteen with people eating at long tables under a patterned ceiling. Contemporary dining space with light walls, red upholstered bench seating, and layered lighting design.
Wide-angle view of a bright dining area with integrated seating booths, red upholstered benches, wood paneling, and modern circular light fixtures on the wall and ceiling.
Close-up of a minimalist light ring fixture suspended above a light wooden table surrounded by red cube-like upholstered seats.
Reception or service counter in a softly lit interior with tiled flooring, wood paneling, and integrated lighting elements on the walls
Person sitting and reading in a cozy built-in booth area illuminated by a ring light, surrounded by red cushions and beige wooden panels

 

Implementation & materiality

Each space was detailed with careful attention to its specificities and technical constraints, while maintaining a global vision of unifying the ensemble into a cohesive, functional whole.

For the foyer, the focus was on increasing its usage through bespoke furniture designed to create a more dynamic and versatile space, allowing for interactions over coffee, seated discussions, or quiet moments alone. The main additions include a polyvalent podium, which offers flexibility for informal gatherings or events, and a row of alcoves designed as cozy, acoustically comfortable spots for small meetings or informal work.

The restaurant was enlarged by removing the office space and was reimagined as an all-day functional space, accommodating diverse seating typologies and a new lounge area. The space was further expanded by incorporating a separate lounge section. To enhance flow and openness, hallway passages were eliminated, making the restaurant visible from the elevator area and seamlessly integrating circulation paths.

Additionally, the self-service area was redesigned, and the kitchen was slightly extended to optimize its usage. A transparent yet physical separation was introduced between the restaurant and the kitchen/self-service area, reducing noise while still offering a visual connection between the two spaces.

The material palette incorporates natural, warm tones for the finishes, evoking simplicity and softness. The design emphasizes modularity through clean geometric shapes, reflected in subtle details like rattan weaving, wood paneling, and carefully selected light elements: circles, spheres, and lines—these features work in harmony to create a cozy ambiance while also serving as decorative accents throughout the space.

Architectural floor plan of the Elia Empereur 20 project showing the layout of the kitchen, self-service area, restaurant, and foyer with labeled zones and furnishings, including an entry point from Boulevard de l’Empereur.
Dining space with long red-upholstered bench seating, white tables, and wooden chairs, adjacent to a large window and a separate work lounge area
Wall view featuring three vertical tube light sconces above a red bench, accompanied by round white tables and minimalist chairs.
Narrow workspace with a tall bar-style counter along a large window, pendant lighting overhead, and a person working in a soft seating zone
Close-up of a brushed brass wall light fixture over a woven beige panel wall Ceiling detail featuring a wooden lattice grid with a minimalist recessed spotlight Minimal chair in wood and metal with ring-shaped pendant lights and red booth seating in the background Wall detail showing red velvet seating against a panel of woven beige fabric and light wood Pendant light with a frosted globe and brass detail hanging from a rough ceiling Vertical brass wall lights casting soft shadows on a neutral-toned dining area with red seating Detail of two red booth seats with light wood bases, divided by a vertical wall panel
Central high table with wooden stools under a sculptural ring light, set against a backdrop of wood paneling and a digital screen.
Framed view of a dining area with red upholstered bench seating, light wood panels, and a modern globe pendant lamp.
Group of people seated at minimalist white tables and wooden chairs, enjoying a meal in front of large windows.
Self-service kitchen station with a blurred staff member in motion, stainless steel food displays and glass partition.

SELF-SERVICE & KITCHEN DESIGN

A complementary mission focused on the thorough renovation of the kitchen and self-service area, with an overall aim of improving ergonomics and operational efficiency while elevating both user experience and sustainability.

Creating visibility of the counter from the entry hall was also a key feature, aimed at making the space more accessible and inviting.

The kitchen’s layout and equipment were completely reviewed to improve working conditions, create more storage space, and support the growing number of users, rising to up to 100 people. A composting system was integrated to recycle organic waste into reusable compost, aligning with sustainability goals.

The self-service area was redesigned and expanded to improve circulation, while the kitchen was slightly extended to optimize its functionality. A transparent yet physical separation was introduced between the restaurant and the kitchen/self-service area, effectively reducing noise while maintaining a sense of openness and visual connection. These interventions not only enhanced the spatial organization but also contributed to a smoother, more intuitive flow, ensuring wider and more comfortable pathways for guests. The overall design prioritizes ease of movement and accessibility, creating a seamless and enjoyable dining experience centered around the diverse food offer proposal.

Additionally, a simplified clearing zone was introduced, visually separated from the seating areas, to maintain fluidity and avoid disruptions.

Annotated floor plan of a kitchen and dining area showing food preparation zones, customer self-service stations, tray clearing area, and dishwashing flow with arrows indicating staff and user movement.
A woman moves behind a modern self-service counter, framed by glass walls and stainless-steel food displays
Close-up of dining area with wooden chairs and white tabletops, while a person prepares food in the background
A chef wearing a cap and uniform serves a plate of potatoes and meatballs in the kitchen's hot food station
View through a glass partition showing a woman eating lunch under warm lighting, with a glimpse of the kitchen in the background.
A black and white photograph showing the former self-service cafeteria with a man approaching the food counter and customers dining at simple tables in the background. Contemporary self-service area with integrated lighting, neutral tones, and sleek service counters, including a bread station in the foreground and chefs visible in the background A black and white image of the previous cafeteria layout, featuring curved wooden dividers, ceiling lights, and labeled food sections such as salads and desserts. Newly designed dining area with warm lighting, varied seating options, and a large glass wall offering a view into the open kitchen and service counter
Project team

Nguyen-Bao Thai Ngoc
Clara Reviu
Mauro Brigham
Danny Lanckman
Huy Nguyen
Sonia Van Linthoudt
Nicolas Ntalakidis

Partners

ACI
Desize
Forma
Pictures by Atelier minHuy
Sabemaf

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