Design Stories in Tatha
Complementing the incredible views over River Tay, Tatha’s passion for place is expressed through creative, innovative materials and a celebration of Scottish design.
Welcome to the all-new Tatha - where food meets design.
We’re excited to welcome you to the newly refurbished Tatha Bar & Kitchen, where you can enjoy delicious food and drink from our daily changing menu, along with spectacular views over the River Tay.
Following an in-depth review of audience feedback, we have refreshed the look and feel of Tatha to ensure these changes reflect what our visitors want, while keeping the high standards you know and love.
Throughout the refurbishment process, we’ve worked hand in hand with local makers, designers, and food and drink suppliers on everything from the design of our new servery counter and furniture, to the variety of seasonal dishes on our daily changing menu to showcase the best in Scottish produce and design.
Read on for a sample of the wonderful design stories being told at Tatha:
Tiny Temple
Our new servery counter has been clad in Scottish larch wood, hand-worked in the traditional Japanese style of 'shou sugi ban', a Japanese waterproofing technique, by Tiny Temple, who are the only manufacturer in Scotland using this cladding method.
This is the first time this cladding style has been used in this way – it is usually used for outdoor objects like garden cabins or huts – and was chosen to reflect and complement V&A Dundee’s unique architecture, following the horizontal lines of the building, drawing the eye length-wise to the incredible views over the Tay.
Mirrl
Carrying on the union of Japanese innovation and Scottish design, is our use of an pioneering product called Mirrl – a unique material developed and designed in Glasgow. Used to create our condiments unit, displays, table numbers and point of sale card holders, Mirrl’s production methods are influenced by 'tsugaru nuri', a 600-year-old lacquer producing technique.
The multi-hued Mirrl finish we’ve used conjures up images of swirling waters, seaweed and the river ebbing and flowing.
Source Developments
Regular visitors to Tatha may recognise that all our lovely timber furniture has been reused – hand refurbished, reupholstered and stained here in Scotland. We worked closely with the team at Edinburgh-based Source Developments to identify how best to bring this beautiful timber furniture back to life and work it into the new scheme while continuing to carry our commitment to sustainability.
Camira/Seaqual Initiative
Our timber chairs have been upholstered in a fabric called Quest, made by Camira partnership with the Seaqual Initiative. The fabric is made with 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, including 75% seaqual yarn, a yarn made from recycled ocean plastic waste.
Emporium Julium
Our mouth-watering counter displays are displayed on some incredible ceramics, made here in Scotland by Julija of Emporium Julijum. Using different clays and sands from her travels around Scotland, the displayware we feature on the counters in Tatha has been made with sand gathered from beaches in the Scottish Highlands and Islands continuing the waterfront theme.
Ocean Plastic Pots
All of the plants in Tatha have all made their homes in plant pots made from end-of-life rope and fishing nets by Ocean Plastic Pots. Based in Scotland, the team at Ocean Plastic Pots hand-collect washed-up plastic from Scottish waters and turn it into beautifully crafted plant pots, breathing new life into waste material.
442 Design
Edinburgh-based design agency 442 Design worked closely with Heritage Portfolio and V&A Dundee to bring authentic Scottish design into the heart of the Tatha story. Every touch point was considered an opportunity to create great moments for visitors to V&A Dundee and to help shine a light on the incredible design taking place in Scotland.
Bentleys
Bentleys are a bespoke joinery manufacturer and fit out specialist based in Dundee. Bringing a wealth of expertise to the table, Bentleys were committed to working closely with 442 Design and all of the designers and makers to bring the scheme together seamlessly for a high-quality result befitting for the building.