The corner: Zainab Shaukat

The creative architect gives us a tour of Bamboo Union — the hottest sensation situated in the heart of Lahore

Zainab Shaukat’s latest creation is home to Lahore’s famous eatery, Bamboo Union. She takes us through the inspiration behind its design and some of her favourite areas as we take a tour of the restaurant located right in the heart of Lahore.



As we walk in, attention is immediately drawn to the hanging bamboo structure and light fittings, which are the focal point of the restaurant. “The name Bamboo Union inspired me to add a touch of bamboo. I made a structure out of bamboo and hung it from the ceiling,” Shaukat tells us as we enter.

The textured walls, together with the lightwood seating make for a calm and collected ambience. Inspiration was drawn from the British-headquartered Asian chain, Wagamama, which is evident in the benched seating and minimal décor. “Since this was going to be an eatery serving pan-Asian food, I followed the lines of Wagamama. The concept of benches was used to keep the place minimal rather than cramped with décor,” says Shaukat when asked about her inspiration behind the design.



As is the case with many of Shaukat’s projects, the use of natural-coloured wood is prominent throughout the eatery. The white-polished wood used under the counter gives the place a unique feel, while the single grey wall gives the restaurant character and breaks the monotony of the wood. “I really wanted to add white somewhere, and since no one had really done white polished wood with visible grains in Lahore, I went ahead,” she says, adding that “white also gives the feel of openness, in whatever way it is used.” Shaukat’s use of white with a concrete-like texture not only makes the space look bigger but also gives it a sense of openness.

As we move on to the live kitchen on the ground floor, food sizzles and the chefs are hard at work. It is precisely this aspect that makes the eatery one like no other.

“Basically the ground floor is my favourite. As it has the live kitchen, you get to see the fire flaming and the chefs in action with your food,” she says. We walk over to the first floor and immediately notice how bright the area is. The design enables sunlight to enter through the beautifully panelled windows and offers a pretty view while you eat your meal.

Just as we have a hard time deciding what our favourite part of the restaurant is, Shaukat too says she doesn’t think it an easy feat. “Since I designed the entire thing I seem to be in love with it altogether,” she says laughingly. Shaukat’s design aesthetic for Bamboo Union is minimal yet modern. The minimal approach gives you room to breathe while all the interior accents effortlessly complement each other.