14th February 2020 | IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn As SBID continue to support the interior design industry through recognition, each month we’ll be sharing some of our favourite Finalist projects from SBID Awards 2019! Naturally, in celebration of Valentines Day – the perfect occasion for wining and dining with that special someone, we’re focusing this month’s edition on inspirational Restaurant Designs! Restaurant Design Avocado Sweets Design Studio – Moto Pizza Moto is a new rodizio-style pizza concept where the scene is set from the exterior signage design. The authoritative stamp-like quality of the monochrome logo with a playful ‘t’ motif is then built into the physical fabric of the interior to cement the brand familiarity. Inside, the space boasts a careful combination of colour, materials, textures and patterns to relax, reassure and excite. Taking disparate textures, colours and styles, the team knitted together a cohesive space that is both effortlessly cool and warm and inviting. The floor space is carefully zoned to accommodate a range of covers for lunch and dinner. The open kitchen and wood-fired oven take centre stage, clad in a monochrome mosaic of tiles spelling out Moto Pizza – a striking visual cue to instantly communicate the quality and care of the product, the theatre of the cooking, and to cement the new brand identity. LXA – Ena The brainchild of Greek entrepreneur Lena Maniatis, Ena offers authentic Greek cuisine, inspired by a genuine love for the ‘real’ food you find in homes and villages. In a highly distinctive, modern setting, the restaurant’s interior evokes the experience of sitting on a rocky island, under an olive tree, watching the sea by candlelight. Because Lena insists on using natural ingredients in her dishes, there is a focus on natural materials – especially different types of stone – using them as a backdrop for contemporary Greek artworks. The use of natural raw stone gives the impression of the dramatic rugged terrain and is used as a wall-feature set behind glass, a subtle homage to site excavation as the rock reveals its secrets contrasting with polished stone sculpture. SMC Design – Spirit of Discovery: Coast to Coast SMC Design were tasked with creating a modern, fresh interior that evoked the design of a classic champagne and oyster bar for their client SAGA Cruises. The design of the room takes on coastal influences with aqua, teal and turquoise colours found within the soft furnishings, complemented by a dark timber herringbone floor and the clever use of kiln-formed toughened glass and mirrors to accentuate the size of the restaurant. The coastal influence follows through to the specially commissioned artwork by Beth Nicholas set within brass framing. Tan leather ribbed chairs and teal fabric buttoned banquettes offer seating options to diners, with copper cutlery and dining plates inspired by the room signage decorating the tables. Located on the promenade deck of the ship, all guests to this restaurant have the ability to fine dine whilst looking out to the ocean in this modern, crisp interior. These White Walls – HIDE These White Walls was approached by Hedonism Wines to create a concept and interior aesthetic for its flagship fine-dining venue HIDE in Mayfair, which is a joint venture with acclaimed chef Ollie Dabbous. The venue would be a rustic-yet-refined dining haven, set over three floors, housing two restaurants, five private dining spaces, a bakery, wine cellars and a rare spirits bar. The brief was to create an interior that felt hedonistic yet homely, be luxurious yet accessible, and ultimately a unique experience that reflected the personality of its owners. The studio created an interior scheme based upon the theme of ‘dwelling’. The concept takes traditional emblems of domesticity and re-imagines them in unexpected ways, expressing beauty and ethereality. Each floor – Above, Ground and Below – was given a distinct narrative and shifted the palette of materials in relation to nearby Green Park to create an evolving sensual experience for guests. Twenty2Degrees – SOMOS Restaurant: Crowne Plaza Porto SOMOS Restaurant is a Mediterranean restaurant and bar space that references the charm and detail associated with local building and spaces within the city. The use of timber, terracotta finishes and decorative hand-painted floor tiles are a direct reference to traditional Mediterranean building materials. Uncomplicated rustic details and simple building methods complement the refined yet effortless local cuisine.