A combination of bricks and brick tiles from Robertson's Building Products Pty Ltd was used at a Melbourne-based Nepalese restaurant during a recent fitout.

Located on the Menzie’s Lane precinct at Melbourne Central, Chilli Everest is a popular destination for authentic Nepalese cuisine in the city. Designed by Architects EAT, the restaurant features a tactile and layered look, taking inspiration from various Nepalese motifs including temples, nature, monuments and food. The mix of contrasting colours, material textures and illumination create both physical and visual layering within the space.

“Chilli Everest offers a range of Nepali dishes, which present a mouth-watering variety of texture, colour and smell with every dish. Similarly, the design fitout captures a tantalising wealth of texture, colour and smell within a very small boundary,” says Erin Pearce, interior designer, Architects EAT.

Rustic Red brick tiles­ have been used to create a spectacular feature for the servery counter; the brick tiles together with the Graphite tiles on the entrance walls and rattan screening panels on the exterior wall and doors deliver a wonderful tactile, layered design.

“The Rustic Red brick tiles and custom cut bricks embrace and celebrate the colour of red; their staggered form and raw, earthy texture was introduced as a reflection of the landscape and architecture in Nepal. And graphite tiles were used to ensure that the lucky colour, red, was enhanced,” explains Pearce.

The brick tiles are the face of the entrance, and continue into the restaurant, seamlessly connecting the outside and inside. Laid along the entranceway, the darker brick tiles are creatively dotted with splashes of Rustic Red brick tiles, tying in beautifully with the service counter.

Pearce describes the service counter as ‘the real gem in the crown for us’. Vertical rows of Rustic Red brick tiles are interspersed with custom cut Rustic Red bricks (at 90mm) to create a standout layered effect. The brickwork is beautifully illuminated with strip lighting, intensifying both colour and texture, and creating variation in light and shadow.

Another aspect of the renovation that only gets noticed when the restaurant is closed for business is the design of the doors. The entire fitout was designed around the operation and placement of the doors. It’s now a key feature of the shopfront with rattan screening on the inside face of the glass panels providing privacy while also enticing passing customers with a brief taste of the design that lies within.

Not surprisingly, Chilli Everest’s owners were extremely happy with the new design and business is absolutely thriving since the reopening.

Products used: Rustic Red brick tiles (230 x 76 x 15mm) and custom cut Rustic Red bricks (90mm), Graphite brick tiles

Photographer: Chris Murray