Inside YUZU: Where textures reflect a bohemian interior

In Dhaka, Pan-Asian restaurants often look like they were cut from the same cloth. Walk into any restaurant and you'll see the usual mix of rattan chairs, textured walls, and the familiar glow of warm lights. 

YUZU, a new restaurant at Fortune Square in Dhanmondi, set out to change that. While it draws from the familiar bohemian language, it offers a version that is elevated, layered, and distinctly its own.

The project was led by Lava Biswas Nandini and Shaharia Nasrin Reta, co-founders of Thinkspace, with the support of assistant architect Tahsin Ridwan Pulok. Work began in June 2024 and was handed over in November. 

In conversation with The Business Standard, the two architects shared the behind-the-scenes story of how YUZU came to life.

The architects recalled that for their client, this was a first step into hospitality. They had never run a restaurant before but came to them with a very clear idea of what they wanted—a space that felt chic and comfortable yet stood apart from the dozens of bohemian-inspired eateries across Dhaka.

The earliest step was building a mood board. Instead of curating images from Pinterest or Google, Thinkspace used tools like Midjourney to generate a custom presentation tailored to the client's aspirations. "Every project is like a child to us," the architects explained, "so we nurture it from the very beginning." 

The board included concepts such as using dry palm leaves to add a rustic texture, but in Bangladesh's humid, monsoon climate, such materials quickly proved impractical. Rope was another idea; but dry rope of consistent quality is difficult to source locally. 

From the outset, these challenges signalled that the project would need to strike a careful balance between vision and reality, turning to sturdier alternatives of similar materials that could preserve the rustic character while withstanding the demands of the climate.

Once the concept was in place, the next priority was spatial planning. Restaurant interiors succeed not just on how they look but on how they feel, and seating layouts can make or break comfort. The client wanted YUZU to feel open and breathable, avoiding the cramped density of many Dhaka restaurants. Even before the location was confirmed, Thinkspace prepared layouts, later adapting them to the Fortune Square site. 

At YUZU, the walls were meant to stand out. The architects explained that they were finished with uneven layers of white cement for texture, then enhanced with Berger paints, lime wash, gypsum, and corrugated effects to create a raw, handcrafted look. To add character, they introduced natural elements across the surfaces, with woven details running along ceilings and walls, and macramé used in décor and curtains for a tactile touch.

"Rope was the anchor," said Reta. "It gave the restaurant its identity, supported by rattan, bamboo, and wood across the ceilings, furniture, and partitions." Most of these materials were sourced locally, making the design both sustainable and practical within the limits of the market.

The element that drew the most attention, however, was their accent wall—a striking feature that soon became a favourite among diners and one of the most challenging parts of the project to execute. The team experimented with different kinds of rope and textures of rope before finalising a scheme that combined variations into a striking pattern. 

However, it wasn't easy. Ten artists spent three to four days on installation, attaching the ropes along a 20–22-foot curved wall. Because these ropes could not be cut midway, each stretch had to be applied continuously, fixed with hot glue guns. The curvature of the wall made the job painstaking. But the result was worth the effort; a dramatic, textured surface that became YUZU's most recognisable signature.

Apart from using ropes on the walls, another ambitious piece during the project was a giant chandelier for the private family room. It was so large that it could not fit through the door, and the team had to cut open part of the door frame just to bring it in. It was handmade by Thinkspace's in-house artists from rough fabric moulded into the shape of dry palm leaves. Since importing natural palm was impractical, cloth became a clever substitute. 

The chandelier achieved the natural, organic look the team wanted while showcasing the craftsmanship of local makers. Other light fixtures were also handmade, using fabric manipulated into naturalistic forms.

Lighting was treated as both functional and artistic. Day and night bring out two different faces to YUZU. During the day, the glass façade lets sunlight flood the dining hall, creating an airy brightness. 

At night, hidden lights change the atmosphere. Aluminium bars conceal fixtures that glow outward through the façade, making the restaurant pop from the street. Inside, macramé curtains and bamboo ceiling details scatter shadows, making the space feel layered and intimate.

The colour palette stayed intentionally restrained. Neutral and warm tones dominated, keeping the space breathable and calm. To avoid monotony, a single bold accent was also introduced. It appears in sofa upholstery, wall accents, and furniture, adding vibrancy without overpowering the natural shades.

Seating capacity was designed for around 80 people, with about 60 accommodated in the main dining hall and 20 across private and smoking areas. The arrangement avoided cramming diners into tight clusters, keeping comfort central.

The flooring, however, became one of the most complicated aspects. The team had initially envisioned mosaic-style tiles made of tiny pieces to create intricate patterns. After extensive searching, they finally sourced materials that came close to their vision and used them in the smoking zone and private area. Reta and Nandini explained that the section was laid out in a spiral, radiating like a spider's web, a detail that required careful explanation to the masons to ensure it was executed correctly. 

"In the main dining hall," continued Nandini, "the S-shaped seating was mirrored by the flooring. Cutting tiles to follow that curve and make the tile look seamless was quite challenging, as a small mistake meant wasted tiles, because they couldn't be reused." Terrazzo and fair-faced cement tiles were balanced across zones, adding variation and depth.

Furniture choices added another layer of detail. Four different types were used, their arrangement designed to complement the ceiling, lighting, and flooring. Metals were deliberately avoided to prevent overheating and to preserve the natural warmth of rattan, wood, and bamboo. The entire layout was conceived holistically, with furniture, floors, and ceilings all echoing each other.

Beyond function and comfort, the space also needed to be photogenic. Thinkspace achieved this by designing visually distinct zones. Diners could choose their seats based on the vibe they preferred, whether it was the dramatic rope wall, the terracotta-orange accents, or the bamboo-lit corners. The variety ensured that every part of the restaurant could serve as a backdrop, while the overall design remained cohesive.

Looking back, architects Nandini and Reta admitted that no project comes without complications. They recalled facing constant hurdles, but instead of treating them as setbacks, they saw them as chances to innovate.

"There's no such thing as a perfect project. Challenges are what push us to create something exceptional," they concluded with a smile.