TNN Studio Blends Historic Character with Contemporary Glamour

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a striking and glamorous restaurant design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, TNN Studio.

This project transforms a Grade II-listed building in Bishop’s Stortford, UK, into a bold, multi-level Asian fusion restaurant that blends historic character with contemporary glamour. The interior concept draws inspiration from Art Deco and Bauhaus design—celebrating the building’s heritage while creating a striking new destination for dining and nightlife.

What was the client’s brief?

The client wanted a high-concept Asian fusion restaurant that felt like a true destination — a place that could rival a night out in London while remaining rooted in the community. The brief included multiple layers of experience: refined fine dining, lively cocktail lounges, and a private wine room for intimate gatherings.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Roaring ’20s and the glamour of the Art Deco era were central inspirations. We wanted to capture that sense of celebration, sociability, and timeless style, while translating it into a contemporary setting. Our aim was to create a layered journey, where guests could move through different moods and atmospheres as the evening unfolded.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Working within a Grade II listed building always brings challenges, particularly balancing modern services and multiple functions within a heritage shell. Coordinating distinct experiential zones across the levels — each with its own identity, yet all tied together with a cohesive design language — required careful planning and collaboration with contractors and conservation teams.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the space come alive and witnessing the community embrace it has been incredibly rewarding. From intimate dinners to lively nights upstairs, No.14 has quickly become a new local landmark. The positive feedback and the way people are using the venue exactly as we envisioned — gathering, celebrating, returning — has been the highlight for us.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards are internationally respected and celebrate design excellence across disciplines. Their unique balance of expert judging and public voting offered us a way to showcase No.14 both within the design industry and to a broader audience. It felt like the right platform to share a project that is ambitious, vibrant, and rooted in community.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It’s been a significant milestone for us. As a boutique studio, being shortlisted affirms that our approach — where craftsmanship, architectural expertise, and storytelling are central — resonates within the wider design industry. It has given us greater visibility, strengthened client trust, and motivated us to keep pushing creative boundaries.

Questions answered by Tulin Naltekin, Founder and Creative Director of TNN Studio.