Ninetynine's Shrinking Tile Grid Pulls Diners into Fab Fries Freddy

Ninetynine designed Fab Fries Freddy, a 35 sqm snack bar in Amsterdam's Red Light District, using a forced-perspective tile grid that shrinks from 20 cm squares at the entrance to 5 cm at the counter, drawing customers inward. The interior on Oudebrugsteeg uses white ceramic tiles from CE.SI's Colori range (matte white, Vermiglio red, Vanadio yellow) across floor, walls, and ceiling, with the grid stepping inward every 1.5 meters. Signal yellow tiles spell out 'Burger,' 'Fries,' and 'Shakes' directly on walls and ceiling, functioning as signage. The counter area switches to signal red as a visual payoff. Recessed LED lines run irregularly through the tiling. Fixed furniture includes a white-tiled counter with powder-coated yellow steel top and stools with yellow steel frames and wood seats. The design team, Jeroen Vester and Giulia Cosenza, completed the project in 2021. The interior avoids digital signage, relying solely on ceramic tile and color to communicate its fast-food function. The forced perspective makes the space legible at a glance to passing tourists.