With the Tropical Hut nostalgia wave still running high, the once-forgotten and obscure fast food chain is getting a new lease on life as its age-old stores welcome a surge of new customers.
While the chain is seeing more customers flock to its branches now than any other time in recent years, a redesign doesn’t seem to be high on its priority list — most Tropical Hut diners would say that stepping into one of their outlets is like walking back in time. Hence, a design and construction firm has taken it upon themselves to reimagine what the fast food restaurant would look like with a contemporary update to its aesthetic.
Urban Matrix Builders writes, “We made a conceptual modern Filipino design for our childhood favorite Tropical Hut! Through integration of Tropical Hut’s original branding and playful approach with wooden elements, we made Tropical Hut cozier and more inviting.”
Images courtesy of Urban Matrix Builders
Based on Urban Matrix’s visuals, the Tropical Hut redesign makes the chain looks more like a modern and upscale fast-casual burger joint, with a heavy emphasis on wooden elements against its green hue.
Users online liked the redesign and agreed that the chain’s look was overdue.
“Make this happen,” one user said.
“A sleeker and cleaner design for Tropical Hut. I dig this,” another wrote.
Meanwhile, some felt the brand’s retro vibe was part of its charm.
“The wooden panels gives me (McDonald’s) vibes,” one wrote. “Maybe it would be better to make it look like a ‘60s diner.”
“I still wish there’s a hint of period-design pieces there! Actually, I would find the existing chairs still comfier than the designed one. My only concern is that the design lost its nostalgia and became too modern,” another commenter wrote, pointing out that the Escolta branch in Manila, which was used as the basis for the conceptual redesign, is located in a Beaux-Arts prewar building. “It may be a great design inspiration.”
