MAMA LOVE

Tucked into a BUSTLING SUBURB on Sydney’s North Shore, a new eatery melds its owner’s PROUD CULTURAL HERITAGE with MODERN LINES and TEXTURES to cinematic effect.

NAME: MAMA MULAN

DESIGN INSPIRATION for the stylish new Chinese eatery Mama Mulan was informed not by a cutting-edge concept of what’s hot now, but rather by a Disney film. Mulan, the 1998 animated classic, was the conceptual rather than the literal starting point for a space that pays homage to classic Chinese influences in a resolutely contemporary style. Mama Mulan (mulan

LOCATION: CHATSWOOD, NSW

means lily magnolia in Mandarin) melds beauty and warmth (the mama part of the name) to create an environment where owner Kim Jin could recreate the homeliness of his native northern Chinese province, and present diners with a new take on honest, flavoursome Asian cuisine. Paul Papadopolous of DS17 has installed a palette of blue, green and cream that

DESIGN FIRM: DS17

complements the tactile woods used throughout, while a series of soft concrete arches frame the room, their gentle rounded edges creating a feeling of intimacy. Lanterns, antiques and a modern take on a Chinese herb shop all contribute to give Mama Mulan an eclectic appeal that is truly cinematic. Level 1, The Concourse, Chatswood, NSW; mamamulan.com.au

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A series of soft arches frame the space and create a sense of intimacy; Designer lanterns present a modern take on a Chinese classic; Tactile woods are used throughout, softening the concrete walls; A wooden door mirrors the distinctive arches.