Uma Nota’s recent win in the Interior Design of the Year – Eating Space category at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards awarded the vision and creativity of Asmaa Said and her team at The Odd Duck Design. Opened in March 2024 in Manila, the Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant combines the experiences of design, food, and ambiance. With attention to detail, thoughtful layout, and a blend of cultures, Uma Nota shows the influence of design on the experience.
Extending over 650m², Uma Nota Manila brings the essence of Brazil’s playful spirit and mixes it with Japan’s minimal elegance in a fresh and modern way. The design flows through its three unique zones—the Living Room & Bar, Tropicalia, and Meiji—each with its own personality yet connected into a cohesive whole. From the hanging tree installation in the Living Room to the rich textures and custom elements in Tropicalia and Meiji, the space feels like a work of art.
In this interview, Asmaa Said opens up about her work with Uma Nota, the creative process behind designing the restaurant’s distinct zones, and how she balanced the cultural influences without resorting to clichés. She also discusses the challenges she faced in transforming the space from a calm dining environment to an energetic nightlife space while maintaining a consistent and inviting atmosphere. Join us for a look behind the scenes of a project that has captured the attention of the global design community.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and The Odd Duck Design’s history? How did you merge paths with Uma Nota?
I’ve been working in the Hospitality field for over 12 years now, during which, I have had the pleasure of working with the top hoteliers and F&B brands worldwide across 25 cities and over 10 countries. In an attempt to slow down the pace to focus on quality over quantity, I set up The Odd Duck in 2021 in Dubai alongside my talented team of designers, architects, and artists. Our latest projects include the iconic Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius, Hilton Labriz Seychelles F&B, and of course, Uma Nota Manila.
Back in 2013 I worked closely with Jean Michel Offe (the father of Alexis and Laura – Founders of Meraki Hospitality) on the signature Hotel Jen Beijing. Since then, he has been a dear mentor to me and someone I truly admire and look up to. When his son and daughter, Alexis and Laura Offe, set out to expand the Uma Nota brand outside their current locations in Paris and Hong Kong, Meraki Hospitality brought The Odd Duck Design on board to envision Uma Nota 2.0. Shortly after, Uma Nota partnered up with Michael Needham and the team in Manila to open up their first venue in the Philippines. It has been a remarkable journey working with the client on this unique concept and trying to capture their unique vision for the Uma Nota brand.
How did you manage to design each of the different zones (The Living Room & Bar, Tropicalia, and Meiji) while maintaining a cohesive identity for Uma Nota?
From the onset of the Project, we were keen to establish a base palette and design language that would run through the different spaces to ensure the design remains cohesive and flow effortlessly. Onto this base palette, we then layered the unique identity of the space to bring its soul to life; a good example of that is the wood paneling in both Meiji and Tropicalia private dining rooms – the same material is used in different curved profiles, and embellished against various colors (pink tones in tropicália and blue rich accents in Meiji), giving the guest a uniform aesthetic but interpreted in a unique way to suit the concept of each room.
How did you manage to integrate the cultural fusion of Japanese and Brazilian influences into the design without making it feel overly thematic or expected?
At The Odd Duck, we foster a research-heavy approach to design, which ensures our interpretations are culturally and contextually sensitive to their setting. At the start of this Project, we spent weeks researching and learning about the stunning cultures of Japan and Brazil, quietly observing their quirks and what makes them special. We did not wish to capture a literal interpretation but rather the soul of the place and its people.
What was the most unexpected challenge you faced while designing this space, and how did you solve it?
The central challenge was to design a space that maintained its elegance during the day while becoming an energetic and exclusive venue at night. From the initial brainstorming sessions, the intention was to stir away from the expected interpretation of Brazil-inspired interiors with vibrant colors and tropical patterns and go in a more ethereal and sculptural approach in capturing Brazil’s raw and uninhibited nature. The hanging installation represents exactly that: a real reclaimed tree with intricate silk leaves gracefully suspended at the heart of the double-height space.
Another pillar in achieving this transition was the use of custom-designed lighting and an advanced sound system. The lighting is meticulously programmed to shift in intensity and color throughout the evening, creating a dynamic ambiance that transitions the space from a serene dining area to a lively lounge. This transformative lighting system, paired with strategically placed speakers, enhances the overall sensory experience, making Uma Nota an immersive environment
Were there any lessons that you took from Uma Nota’s locations in Hong Kong and Paris that influenced your approach to the Manila project?
We focused less on the aesthetics of the existing venues in Paris and Hong Kong and more on what makes them successful and how they resonate deeply with the guests. A big part of that is the unique operational style of Meraki Hospitality; they managed to create personalized spaces that are intimate, inviting, and very much part of the fabric of the societies and neighborhoods they are in. We took the same approach to the Manila venue, where we studied what style of design, space flow and aesthetics would draw people in, make them feel welcome and inclined to come back time and time again.
Congratulations on winning the “Interior Design of the Year – Eating Space” category at the LIV Awards! What does this recognition mean to you and The Odd Duck Design?
Uma Nota has been a labor of love for quite some time now, not only for us as designers but also for the owners, specialists, builders, and all the talented makers and artisans who helped us get here. Witnessing the success and recognition it is garnering internationally is heartwarming and a proud moment for all of us.
What’s next for The Odd Duck Design? Are there any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
This year started off strong with very exciting project appointments. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose the brands yet as they are confidential. However, what we can say for now is that building on the success of 2024, we have been appointed to a new, exciting resort in Mauritius, a very high-end international F&B brand in Manila, and a luxury resort here in Dubai. We cannot wait to share more with you about how the design unfolds over the next few months.
