Dezeen Magazine

Restaurant Praq by Tjep

Dutch designer Tjep. has completed a restaurant for grown-ups that is also fun for children (or maybe the other way round).

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Restaurant Praq, at Amersfoort in the Netherlands, has tables that look like a bus, a window and a kitchen.

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Tjep. created the interior and identity for the restaurant and is the second Praq restaurant by the designer.

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The first opened at Ouderkerk aan de Amstel near Amsterdam a couple of years ago.

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Here's some info from Tjep.:

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Title
Praq Amersfoort - Interior & Identity

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Description
In October 2003 two wonderful entrepreneurs came to us with their wish to start a new unique restaurant concept that would welcome parents and their children without looking like a playground. Indeed parents don't necessarily want to spend the evening with Donald Duck when they go out (nor do the children by the way!).

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The first Praq restaurant opened it's doors shortly after and became quite succesful and well-known. After 5 succesful years our client realized that the formula had the potential to become a restaurant chain, thus opening two new venues is 2008. Presented here is the first of the two that opened in Amersfoort, Netherlands.

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Again we tried to create a restaurant that is inspiring and fun for children, while being comfortable and enjoyable for their parents. This in an integrated rather than separated manner, which is more usually the case.

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The space is characterized by a monumental farm style roof composed of huge massive wooden beams. Within this space we tried to create a playful world by placing furniture and elements that form crossovers between objects and furniture or furniture that refers to the space itself. For example a table becomes a window, a bus or a kitchen. (see pics)

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The six meter high construction in the center looks like an abstract cloud evoking something of a colorful game while contrasting nicely with the handcrafted architecture. One space is reserved for children and their parents while the other is reserved for adults.

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The adult space clearly fits the same world only here the accent is more geared towards cosiness and style. By the way Praq means mashed food for children in Dutch, however, the plates sereved at Praq are very refined and tasty.

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Special items:

Window tables
Tunnel benches
Movie house
Play table
Car table
Bus table
Kitchen table
Drawing table
Balancing dish table
Dish lights

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Project Team
Frank Tjepkema, Janneke Hooymans, Tina Stieger, Leonie Jansen, Bertrand Gravier

Special thanks
Brandwacht en Meijer & Kloosterboer