Mavtect Designs are proud to be collaborating with one of Adelaide’s most celebrated hospitality families, the Nguyens, to bring their biggest venture yet, Modachau, to life.

Built from the ground up on the former Rose Garden Thai site along Churchill Rd, Prospect, Modachau will be a multi-million-dollar modern Asian restaurant representing the evolution of a family legacy that has shaped Adelaide’s dining culture for decades.

The Nguyen family’s name is synonymous with some of the city’s most beloved venues; Ong Vietnamese in the East End, Lemongrass on Rundle Street, and Noi Vietnamese in Fullarton. With Modachau, they’re combining their collective experience and creative energy into a new flagship restaurant that celebrates both heritage and innovation.

Our design for Modachau draws inspiration from European barn architecture, interpreted through a contemporary lens. The vision was clear from the beginning: to create an open, light-filled space that feels both inviting and refined.

Large expanses of glass flood the interior with natural light, while the barn-inspired form establishes a striking street presence. The venue will accommodate up to 100 guests, featuring an intimate ground-floor dining experience, a dedicated function space upstairs, and a spacious outdoor dining area, all anchored around the theatre of an open kitchen.

“This project provided a unique opportunity to translate the Nguyen family’s passion for authentic, fire-driven cooking into a space that enhances the sensory dining experience. The layout and materials are designed to complement their cooking philosophy; raw, elemental, and connected to the produce.” said Associate Director, Ryan Hopkins.

For Thy Nguyen, who also oversees Shibui Dessert Bar, Shmochi by Shibui, and Devour Café, Modachau represents the culmination of years spent growing up in family restaurants, learning the rhythm of hospitality firsthand.

“Modachau” loosely translates to modern Asian in Vietnamese; a fitting name for a venue that blends sophistication with accessibility. The Nguyen family’s commitment to honest, flavour-driven food is mirrored in the design: refined but unpretentious, contemporary but grounded in tradition.

With construction now underway by Beyond Built, Modachau is set to open its doors in 2026, marking an exciting new chapter not only for the Nguyen family but for Adelaide’s evolving hospitality landscape.

For Mavtect Designs, this project embodies our passion for crafting spaces that tell stories, celebrate culture, and bring people together.