Uncle Gau

Restaurant

Galerie Saint-François A
1003 LAUSANNE – SWITZERLAND

Opening : May 2021

180 m2 – 100 seats + terrace

When he was younger, Uncle Gau’s nephew used to help his aunt in the restaurant and then go down to the basement to help his uncle in the shoemaker’s workshop at the end of the service. He discovered the delicacy of spirits during these evenings spent tinkering with his uncle. But his uncle’s whispering always reminded him of “Shhht, Don’t Tell Aunty!” Uncle Gau is carrying on the tradition, offering a fusion of bistro and Asian cuisine in his restaurant.

Interior architecture and design :
Cécile Morel

The Uncle Gau restaurant is located in the Galerie Saint-Francois, an Art Nouveau building of national importance, built in 1910.

Our intervention was meticulously orchestrated to create a bespoke universe, imbued with the subtle Asian accents that are Uncle Gau’s signature. Every element of the décor has been designed to offer a holistic experience, where every detail counts.

In a subtle interplay of colours and textures, walnut wood and fabrics in shades of water green and grey-beige blend harmoniously to create a welcoming and elegant atmosphere. At the heart of this space, a majestic, custom-designed chandelier illuminates the bar with its splendour, recalling the golden age of the Galerie Saint-Francois with its touches of brass and opaline.

To bring the soul of Uncle Gau to life, we called on the services of artist Kim Straehler, whose talent finely captured the warm and friendly spirit of our host.

Clients :
Charlotte Gauthier et Justine Maslard
https://unclegau.ch/

Architecture :
Colin Fontaine Architectes

Photos :
Think Utopia

Client recommendation :
« Working with Cécile on the refurbishment of a Restaurant (Uncle Gau) & Bar-Lounge (Don’t tell Aunty) in the protected Galerie St François in Lausanne saw the creation of a unique, beautiful & tastefully decorated place.Cécile is not afraid to go above & beyond to source fabrics or furniture from all corners of the world, & even designed most of the chairs & tables herself to be tailor made so that it would fit our vision perfectly.It was a true pleasure to work with Cécile as I could feel her passion for her work. Not hesitating to propose change or add designs even though we had validated the final plans because she thought this new idea could work better.In fact, I am already working again with Cécile for another project in Lisbon. »

Charlotte Gauthier
Founder & CEO – Aunty & Uncle Lausanne SA

« Cécile brilliantly managed the entire process, from studies and administrative procedures to architectural direction and planning management, with meticulous financial monitoring. Her expertise extends from the meticulous choice of materials to the creation of unique furniture, lighting and textiles that have greatly enriched the atmosphere of the renovated spaces.
All of her work, illustrated through 2D plans, 3D perspectives, selections of furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories, as well as mood and material boards, testifies to her exceptional ability to bring an artistic vision to life.
What particularly sets Cécile apart is her unwavering commitment to understanding and respecting the history and culture of places, while integrating modern elements with remarkable finesse. She has worked with top architects on both new-build and renovation projects, demonstrating remarkable versatility and open-mindedness.
Cécile also excels at managing large-scale and medium-scale projects, from the initial project study through to cost estimates, site audits and surveys, and the preparation of building permit applications.
His showroom support, attention to detail and unwavering professionalism were key to our joint success.  I warmly recommend Cécile Morel’s services to anyone looking for an interior designer capable of transforming spaces with creativity, expertise and exceptional project management.

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss in more detail the positive impact of our collaboration should you wish to do so.»

Justine Maslard
CO-Founder – Aunty & Uncle Lausanne SA

Architecte recommendation :
« By this letter, we confirm that you collaborated with our firm as an interior architect for the Uncle Gau restaurant and the Don’t Tell Aunty lounge bar project in Lausanne during 2020/2021.
We greatly appreciated our teamwork on this unique project, studied and realized together as a multidisciplinary team. It was a very beautiful and rich collaboration that ultimately allowed us to design these two distinctive venues to the great satisfaction of the owner and users.
We would be very happy to renew this wonderful work experience with you on future projects.
We wish you full success in your future endeavors.
Best regards »

Blaise Fontaine and Didier Collin
Collin Fontaine Architectes