This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the playful charm and intoxicating narrative of Torno Subito for Massimo Bottura; the Italian restaurateur’s latest venture in Dubai. Vibrantly captured by Bishop Design by Paul Bishop, the SBID Award winning project for the Restaurant Design category is an explosion of utterly beautiful reminiscence.
Ultimately la dolce vita, with colour-bombs and beachside terrace, Torno Subito is situated within the latest W Hotel offering upon The Palm Jumeirah Dubai. The venue beautifully fuses design, food and influences from the golden days in one harmonious offering, through an intoxicating reflection of Massimo’s affection with the past; also mirroring his culinary approach of ‘tradition in evolution’. With its distinctive storyline, Torno Subito brings a playful charm to the UAE as it completely immerses guests within its narrative; infused with sunshine-yellow tiles, Italian-punk inspired artworks and a Polaroid photo feature ceiling. Entirely ahead of its time, Torno Subito revolutionises the F&B (food and beverage) landscape as a pioneer of immersive dining.
SBID Awards: Restaurant Design winner sponsored by Perennials and Sutherland
Company: Bishop Design by Paul Bishop
Project: Torno Subito
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Photos by Alex Jeffries
What was the client’s brief?
Torno Subito, situated within the latest W Hotel upon the Palm Jumeirah Dubai, is a visual celebration for famed World’s number one chef and 3-star Michelin Holder Massimo Bottura. The chef known for passion, creativity and even his quirkiness saw a unique opportunity with this venture, in that he could recreate his childhood memories through intelligent design and an innovative food offering. The brief was simply to realize the sentiment of Massimo having fun. A metaphysical manifestation of beachside days reminiscent of Rimini’s coastal playground in the 1950s/60s – fun-filled days enjoying amazing food, drinks and ultimate relaxation. The interiors were to transport you to destinations beyond imagination through an intoxicating reflection of Massimo’s affection with the past. Film was to be an integral expression throughout as inspiration from Fellini films took precedent. The venue was to be a beautiful fusion, bringing together design, food and influences from the golden days into one harmonious offering.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
An intoxicating narrative of bygone days sets Torno Subito far beyond alternate offerings in the region, elevating the design as one of the most revolutionary in the country. Ultimately La Dolce Vita, with colour-bombs and beachside terrace, “Torno Subito” is an explosion of utterly beautiful reminiscence. Massimo’s “tradition in evolution” approach to food enticed the design direction to inherit the best of the past and carry it forward to the future. Days of Italian pop culture were to be relived in a bewitching series of pure memoirs, satisfying Dubai’s crave for an authentic experience in its absent nostalgia.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
To capture a vision belonging to someone so passionate as Massimo was challenging, yet we superseded expectations by perfectly creating his desired narrative. So far beyond solely an F&B venue, the walls tell a beautiful story inspired by Massimo’s memories, enabling guests to relive Italian food markets and beachside days in 1950s/60s Rimini. Even the name itself “Torno Subito,” translating to “I’ll be back soon,” reflective of Italian shopkeeper window signs, perfectly captures the sentiments of the venues story, whilst playing a tongue-in-cheek reference to Massimo’s presence at the restaurant.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
We had never worked to realize such an inspiring story as the one told Torno Subito. The narrative was enhanced through physically diversifying materials and installations evoking a recollection of memory and re-collection of object. Pastel tones compliment the bold color mélange; contrasting against a morphing monochromatic floor that seamlessly blends into a unique, three-dimensional sand-print flooring. An eclectic array of black and white Polaroid photos suspends from the ceiling, including films of Fellini and Massimo’s collection of nostalgic 1960s summers. Cinematic ideologies evolve through corrugated iron forms representative of cinema curtains, surrounding the WC entrance. Animated graphic-stamped ceiling panels float in irregular lines representing the canopies of old Italian food market tents that Massimo has been visiting since he was young.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
Showcasing projects of the highest calibre all over the world, the SBID Awards stand as a desirable platform for every designer to share their work. It truly is a privilege to be able to submit a selection of our projects and be crowned SBID Award winners, as we become inspired year on year with the unprecedented talent and expertise that the awards showcase.
Questions answered by Paul Bishop, Owner and Founder of Bishop Design by Paul Bishop
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for CGI & Visualisation with the stunning visualisations of their skyscraping penthouse project, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s Restaurant Design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Restaurant Design Winner sponsored by Perennials and Sutherland
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a brand new classic and, at the same time, trending BBQ restaurant design concept for a fast-growing city in the Emirates. New to Dubai, it includes a central open barbecue fire-pit with six different grills from around the world. As visitors enter, they are stunned by the spectacular sight of brick brazier spanning from floor to high ceiling, taking centre stage and serving as the focal point of the entire space. Together with the striking open-fire barbecue-pit, guests are entertained and as much a part of the culinary action as they spectate their carnivore feast being prepared; AtmosFire is more than just a restaurant – it is a dining destination.
Sector: Hospitality Design
Company: 4Space Interior Design
Project: AtmosFire
Project Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Our client, already firmly established within the F&B industry and owners of its own famous and prestigious brand – Barbeque Nation, was seeking to build a BBQ restaurant with a design that is inspired by the traditional grilling techniques from all over the world.
The main inspiration is the fire pit – where people gather around to enjoy a sumptuous meal while sharing life stories. We pitched the concept of having a central open fire pit with 6 different grills that will cater the best meats around the globe.
There were a few hurdles we had to overcome to make sure the restaurant design could be executed safely and effectively:
The spectacular sight of massive brick brazier spanning from the floor to high ceiling, taking centre stage, serves as the major highlight of the entire restaurant design scheme. Another highlight will be the fire pit itself. It came from a well-known brand in UK – Clay Oven. They customise different grilling techniques depending on the requirements of their client. In addition, the seating area on the central pit can be a highlight as well. It was designed to socialise and be part of the action. Guests can experience the finest meats prepared and aged onsite and then grilled and roasted to perfection.
Seeing how the individual design elements we specified came together was also an exciting moment for us; the terrazzo material that had been applied to most of the spaces – floor, walls, tables, and counter tops was as a result of our design vision and gave us the ability to achieve a contemporary yet classic look. We added corten steel walls on the ground level with ember linear lighting inspired by the grilling effect on the meat. The ‘broken bricks’ effect on the ceiling and walls creates a shift between the sleek surfaces to an aged appearance to create an atmosphere of classic history in one of the world’s youngest cities where residents and visitors crave a vision of heritage. A mild black steel was applied to the meat agers cabinet; also around the pit area. This design continues to provide the design theme of contemporary and aged imperfection. The mezzanine floor presents a pleasant surprise as the detail of the upholstery, joinery and finishes is punctuated by perfect lighting to create light yet a calm dining atmosphere. Our materials were used to allow maximum creativity from several viewpoints at every angle of the dining area and bar. The dining chairs are 100% leather upholstery.
Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Design Director at 4Space Interior Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a contemporary kitchen design in sleek, bold tones to blend into its surrounding architecture, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s hospitality design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
4Space Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features London’s first dedicated Avocado bar. Hospitality design specialists DesignLSM share their latest interior project with a restaurant design which evokes a relaxed, bohemian ambience with a beautifully crafted design for the new casual dining concept – Avobar. Following the success of Avobar’s themed pop-up site, a new permanent restaurant has launched which presents the first all-avocado dining concept to arrive in London, creating a ‘must-visit’ destination for health-focused millennials. The 740 sqft restaurant accommodates 70 covers across two floors combining an open and social dining environment with an in-house retail space offering avocado-based skincare and lifestyle products to customers.
Company: DesignLSM
Project: Avobar
Project Location: London, UK
Our brief was to create a relaxed and inspired interior for the launch of London’s first all-avocado dining concept – Avobar. We worked closely with the client to curate an eclectic environment that provides ‘insta-worthy’ appeal, whilst capturing the ethos behind the Avobar brand. Located in the busy shopping hub of Covent Garden’s Henrietta Street, the 740sqft restaurant provides the perfect social setting for London’s avo-lovers offering a beautifully crafted menu and design dedicated to the popular super fruit.
What inspired the design of the project?
Our restaurant design narrative draws inspiration from the laid-back modern aesthetic of California, featuring a relaxed and neutral interior palette – including distressed white timber, abundant hanging foliage combined with a range of printed and woven textiles. Guests can order via the central service counter which is entirely clad in avocado hued handmade tiles and framed by a rustic, draped gantry formed from peeled timber branches. We designed pockets of communal and intimate seating throughout the space, highlighted by soft brass and oversized rattan pendant lighting to induce a warm and social ambience into the space.
Particular design highlights include a striking living plant wall, pastel-coloured tiles and stunning botanical backdrops which have been designed to induce natural warmth as well as communicate the distinctive persona of the brand.
The toughest challenge was overcoming the initial planning constraints of the site, which impacted the timings of the design programme. However we managed to work productively and efficiently to ensure that everything was delivered and completed to a high standard for the client.
A real highlight of the project was seeing the finished avocado toned feature tile wall, which took a great attention to detail to ensure that each tile was perfectly positioned and blended into one another. The striking wall is a prominent feature in the space for this restaurant design to create a true visual feast for Avobar’s customers.
Questions answered by Chloe Mager, Senior Designer at DesignLSM
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the ultimate, employee-centric and ergonomic office space, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
DesignLSM | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the pristine, paradise destination and beautifully designed luxury resort on the picturesque Vommuli Island in the Maldives. An island destination recognised and designed by four ecological zones, the beach, the jungle, the coastal and the lagoon area. In order to satisfy the client’s brief and also to fulfill the aspiration to create something truly unique, the exterior and interior design establishes a strong eco-awareness, expressed through a modern and contemporary architecture and interior design. Balanced by design elements which act as a respectful nod to the tradition, local culture, and the values of St Regis. The whole resort is emotionally and intellectually experienced and enjoyed, but with a profound awareness of the complex relationships of the eco systems being inhabited. Through the experience of each space and place, and the stories it tells, we hope to inspire our guests to understand more about themselves and the precious world we live in.
Company: WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design
Project: St Regis Maldives Vommuli Island
Project Location: Maldives
To build a leading resort in the Maldives that will be sensitive to environmental issues but yet be a luxury resort destination that will justify the development expense without sacrificing superior guest experience.
The inspiration for the interior design stems from the natural pristine beauty and ecology of the atoll and the desire to create eco-awareness to conserve and protect as much as possible the existing island. We think that nature itself is the source for design and not simply the man made world.
The toughest hurdles are logistics and associated time and costs issues to build in the middle of the ocean. The longer the time, the higher the costs and the greater the environmental damage. We worked hard to holistically control these issues and yet build with quality and precision.
Without doubt the highlight of the project was the opportunity to come so close to the raw elements of nature and the local culture. We are so delighted that upon completion our guests have a similar encounter that makes Maldives as a destination a real eye opener.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
We entered SBID awards to seek recognition and exposure to the international design world as an endorsement of the highest calibre.
Questions answered by Wong Chiu Man, Managing Director of WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the proverbial bar for one of chef Vivek Singh’s latest additions to the Cinnamon brand family, click here to see more.
WOWArchitects | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the proverbial bar for one of chef Vivek Singh’s latest additions to the Cinnamon brand family. Cinnamon Kitchen in Oxford is his first restaurant outside of London and offers all day dining in a stunning setting. The sister restaurant was designed by DesignLSM, the hospitality design specialists behind the award-winning Cinnamon Bazaar and most recent launch of Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea Power Station. The decor combines a contemporary and pared back aesthetic with subtle elements reflecting the intricacy and elegance of Indian architecture. The new establishment includes a large destination bar on the ground floor, an openplan kitchen, chef’s table and a semi-private ‘Pagoda’ room. The 4,000 square foot restaurant serves modern-Indian cuisine with British influences. A focal feature is the impressive bar made from Caesarstone’s cutting-edge quartz surfaces; 5143 White Attica. Framing the space is a vibrant array of green ‘beetle’ style seating, creating a social and inviting setting for patrons to enjoy pre & post dinner cocktails.
Carly Zaver, Senior Designer from DesignLSM says; “The technical qualities of Caesarstone’s quartz makes it an ideal fit for bars and hospitality design. Being extremely durable and stain resistant compared to natural marbles, Caesarstone quartz is a perfect solution for applications that demand a beautiful, high quality finish. As quartz is non-porous, it is well matched to food preparation and service areas. This was key for the restaurant’s kitchen pass, where hygiene is paramount.”
Read what else she had to say about this exciting restaurant project…
Project: Cinnamon Kitchen
Project Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Our brief was to bring Chef Vivek Singh’s popular Cinnamon Kitchen brand to the city of Oxford, creating a relaxed all-day Indian dining destination on the rooftop gardens of the new Westgate shopping centre. The restaurant offers a social and inviting setting complete with an exotic garden terrace, which allows diners to take in resplendent views of the City’s famous spires.
What inspired the design of the Project?
Inspired by the intricacy and elegancy of Indian architecture, the interior design combines a contemporary and paired back aesthetic – featuring decorative whitewashed wall paneling, bespoke pendant lighting and luxurious marble finishes; harmonizing together to create a refined ambience that strongly reflects the ethos of the Cinnamon brand.
Despite the site being in a prominent location, it was important that we created a point of difference to other restaurant offerings within the area. We achieved this by designing an enticing outdoor terrace conjuring the exotic essence of an Indian garden with exquisite arrays of rich and greenery and relaxed alfresco furniture.
Working with Vivek and the amazing Cinnamon team is always a joy, we have loved helping them expand their portfolio with their first debut outside of London; along with the openings of Cinnamon Bazaaar and Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea. This project was a great challenge for us to create a refined and elegant dining environment. Cinnamon Kitchen Oxford offers a different feel to its sister restaurant whilst still in keeping with the true persona of the brand.
Questions answered by Carly Zaver, Senior Designer at DesignLSM
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the ideal destination designed to provide relaxation and entertainment for the residents of a prestigious development in Shanghai, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the latest venture from Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. DesignLSM were tasked with introducing the opulent eatery, Demoiselle by Galvin, to Dubai’s newest urban living destination – CITY WALK 2. The interior design concept expands upon their flagship restaurant located within Harrods department store, London. The 6,039 sqft restaurant is set across two floors featuring an artisan patisserie counter, juice bar, modern tea parlour and two intimate terrace spaces, which offer patrons resplendent views. The overall scheme combines a modern and stylish aesthetic with a delightfully warm ambiance, radiating elegance at every turn, and giving Dubai a taste of the artistic and enchanting French charm we all adore.
Project: Demoiselle by Galvin
What was the clients brief?
Having worked with the Galvin brothers on a number of projects over the years, we were delighted when they approached us to design the interior for their first venue within the Middle East. Our brief was to encapsulate the essence of the original Demoiselle in the Harrods department store in London, creating an elegant, modern and stylish all-day dining destination.
The interior design scheme was originally inspired by an ornate collection of paintings illustrating beautiful birds of paradise, and Parisian women in a pastel-hued palette, which Chris Galvin stumbled across on a trip to Champagne. We decided to curate the opulent artwork into the interior and branding of the scheme; creating a stylish and feminine design aesthetic with signature touches that allude to Galvin’s authentic French character.
The budget constraints on the project were very challenging and as a consequence there was a constant effort and policing on our side to maintain the design essence and DNA of the Galvin Brand.
Seeing several years of discussions and development coming to full fruition. Demoiselle is unique to Dubai…there really is nothing quite like it!
The SBID awards are a great platform for designers to showcase their work to the industry and other fellow creatives. Demoiselle by Galvin was a big moment for us as a design practice, we feel we have achieved something very unique here and really wanted to showcase our hard work and success on this beautiful scheme.
Questions answered by Simon Spiteri, Architectural & Projects Director at DesignLSM
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If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with the illustrious Mayfair apartment by 1.61 London, click here to see more.
Entries were received, finalists deliberated and the winners of the SBID International Design Awards 2017 have been announced! Click here to see the full list.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire series features Alkimia, an artfully abstract restaurant located within the heart of Barcelona.
Alkimia is located on the main floor of a modernist building (dating back to 1864) which had previously been left unoccupied for 40 years. The project design was carried out taking into consideration two main elements: the pre-existing architectural context (including its old patina & typology) and the specific gastronomic offer of the Michelin-starred restaurant Alkimia (the menu is 80% fish). The designers wanted to establish a meaningful relationship between the architectural context & the new design. Safeguarding the existing architectural context of the building was paramount. Generating a sensory path where customers are indulged by flavours, fragrances, and all sorts of perceptions were also an vital part of the Alkimia experience.
The restaurant has been conceived as a continuous scenography fostering a seamless sensory experience. The different parts of this scenography feature ocean inspired skins, art installations & custom-made furniture which establish a unique relationship with the surrounding space. Nothing is forever, everything is bespoke. In order to preserve the existing architecture, neither structural interventions nor permanent transformation of the building were proposed. Even the vintage patina on the walls has been kept. Overall, the project is based on a dialogue between digital fabrication and craftsmanship.
SBID had the opportunity to speak with Carmelo Zappulla, PHd Architect with External Reference.
Company: External Reference and Chu Uroz
Project: Alkimia
Project Location: Barcelona, Spain.
The restaurant is located in the centre of Barcelona, on the main floor of a modernist building (dating back to 1864) left unoccupied for 40 years. The project design has been carried out taking into consideration two elements: the pre-existing architectural context (including its old patina and typology) and the specific gastronomic offer of the Michelin-starred restaurant Alkimia (which is 80% based on fish).
1 – The relationship between old and new, digital and artisan.
The project was conceived as a series of physical interventions, or artistic installations that work as mobile or ephemeral devices in dialogue with the old apartment. These elements are the ‘fish spine’ which generates a path that bring you from the reception to the dining rooms and which separates the Unplugged from the formal area.
2. The ‘Alkimia Lab’ is making a new interpretation of the nobiliary entrance of the apartment.
3. The winery, the gallery, the sofa, all the elements are contemporary, new filters that allow you to see the old space and patina.
All these elements are designed using cutting edges parametric software. The fabrication is created through a digital fabrication process, artisanal knowledge and hard work. For example the mold of the AURA chair is 3D printed however its production is completely traditional: cast aluminium, hand welding and polishing, upholstery…
4. The Jordi Vila’s Cousin and his vision of mixing together traditional ingredients with new techniques like an alchemist. From this, the name Alkimia.
To design all the custom made furniture, components and manage and instruct manufacturers who had never completed something as challenging.
Because it is a very prestigious award.
Questions answered by Carmelo Zappulla, PHd Architect at External Reference.
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If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with the historic York Theatre Royal click here to see more
External Reference| SBID International Design Awards 2017
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the eclectic London bar, Zebrano in the City. 4M Group aimed to merge the interior basic shell of this space with the exterior energy of the streets, highlighting the vibrant design scheme and the materials used to create the space as a unified whole. At the same time the environment makes free use of forms inspired by and representative of the natural world.
The interior design scheme is a combination of organic impulse and urban elegance. Starting completely from scratch, 4M Group worked with a range of recycled urban materials – wood, brick and steel – to create an area where the corrosion of metals reigns supreme, in a manner that creates a striking multi-dimensional sensory experience and sparks a conversation on sustainability. The grand metal doors were corroded for several weeks prior to installation. They were also both made out of reclaimed oak and were installed by local specialists.
SBID had the opportunity to speak with Perparim Rama, CEO of 4M Group.
Company: 4M Group
Project: Zebrano in the City
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
The client wanted to create a multi-functional place, where you would arrive for afternoon drinks, eat fabulous food and continue the night downstairs with live music and performances. As a result, Zebrano in the City is brave and bold. It is different, and not afraid to show it. It is a restaurant that on many levels is not about the end result—it is also about the processes that occur in nature and a celebration of them. The space incorporates the rustication of materials, aging, movement flow, deterioration, explosion, force fields, and the transformation of energy into mass. It is about celebrating nature and the life of the materials as they are transformed though the processes of oxidation, aging, or maturing, and it is also about revealing the true nature of construction processes and how things are put together. Zebrano in the City is about exploration using all of the senses. It is about the unknown, about the search for the new and the love of surprise. It is about being true and open. The design may appear to be complex, but it is actually a result of the interaction of simple rules combined with the parameters that have created it. The design is ultimately about the path of least resistance, the energy, the flow. It is about celebrating explosion and what happens to the elements that are transformed as a result of these forces, it is about the transformation of energy into functional form, into mass.
Nature and the subconscious human mind are my two key inspirations. These two always coupled with and adapted to specific sites and contexts, programs, clients and budgets. The above are key parameters, but they are always different in different contexts, and as such the outcome is never the same. Zebrano in the city is an emergent outcome of the context related to the above parameters.
When you think of the two existing Zebrano Bars you cannot help but feel the explosion of fun in these places. They celebrate an explosion of energy and are filled with fun-loving people having a great time. This was the initial idea of explosion of energy, and we created the space by asking what the effect of this explosion would be once it was intertwined with materials and space.
When one discusses concepts which start with an abstract base or out-of-the-box thinking, one has to also surround oneself with like-minded people that have a passion for exploration and are excited about finding creative solutions to problems. Together, you must create a platform of collaboration where a problem is only a parameter for an interesting and innovative design, thus becoming a positive part of the process. In this respect I was very lucky to have clients such as Don, Cevat and Pauline, who were completely open and embraced the explorative and unknown. I was also lucky to have collaborators, staff, manufacturers who did not shy away from this challenge but plunged into the deep to help reveal the new and unknown. I believe that the result is truly explosive, exciting and unique.
Many of the interior furniture was manufactured abroad, in Kosova. We therefore had to send precise drawings and information and at the same time have people in the factory control the items locally. Having all of the fit together as one large puzzle was quite challenging, especially with the lighting sculptural components on the underground level.
Pulling it all together within a very limited budget and timeline – all to the client’s satisfaction. To see a client happy and pleased with the results at the end of a project, money simply cannot buy.
We recognise SBID’s International Design Awards as a great platform to showcase and measure our latest interior design thinking and developments around various parts of the world. We also love the team behind it, and the event ceremony itself is a joy to be apart of.
Questions answered by Perparim Rama, CEO at 4M Group.
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with Siddharta Lounge, Dubai, click here to see more
Winners of the SBID Awards 2017 have now been announced! To find out more click here
4M Group | SBID International Design Awards 2017
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features Siddharta Lounge, Dubai. LW Design’s ode to Buddhism through contemporary restaurant design. Utilising the aesthetics of spirituality to gain true design enlightenment.
Plants & trees are used to evoke feelings of relaxation and harmonise the interior and exterior spaces, which in turn compliments the extraordinary 360 degree views across Dubai Marina.
Inspired by the spiritual teacher, the Buddha, Siddharta Lounge in Grosvenor House offers an modern experience juxtaposed by nature. The interior is focused around a exotic, botanical theme. Eclectic accessories accentuate the concepts of Buddhism. The use of bi-folding doors creates a seamless transformation which allows the guests to experience the restaurant as both an indoor and outdoor space, where statement plants and lights create extra ambience for guests to soak up.
SBID had the opportunity to speak with Sian Whitmore, Senior FF&E Designer at LW Design.
Company: LW Design
Project: Siddharta Lounge
The brief was to completely refurbish the restaurant inside & out and in doing so create a new generation of Siddharta Lounge for the Buddha Bar brand. We were tasked with maximising seating & views across Dubai Marina & the Arabian Gulf. We feel that we have achieved a truly integrated space blending the inside and outside space whilst creating something fresh, vibrant & exciting to stand out from the competition.
The Bodhi tree under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher later became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment, provides the main inspiration behind the new look Siddharta Lounge. Statement green walls and built-in planting throughout create a lush and vibrant ambience. Bi-folding doors open up the main restaurant and transform the space, seamlessly blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior environment. Concrete graphic walls continue the botanical theme both inside and out, adding a more urban and edgy element to the design. Lighting plays a key role within the space to create drama and atmosphere and transform the venue from day to night. Eclectic accessories featuring rustic woven baskets and stone Buddha heads, accent furniture pieces and dip dyed macramé pendant lights add a handcrafted feel and a sense of travel to exotics climes. All of this comes together to create a truly tropical and relaxing vibe.
The main challenge of the refurbishment was the re-working of certain elements to follow the new design aesthetic. The other main challenge was down to time constraints. With a very short time frame to complete the refurbishment we had to be very mindful and selective about the availability of all items and materials specified.
The primary highlight of the project for us was having the opportunity and creative freedom to create a new hot spot in Dubai’s thriving social scene. We are able to drive the brand into a fresh new direction and as a result, witness its success within the competitive marketplace.
We recognise the SBID awards as amongst the top design awards in the industry celebrating design excellence. To be shortlisted together with other inspirational international projects is a privilege. It is a perfect opportunity for us to showcase our design capabilities and to introduce ourselves to the UK market having recently opened up a design branch in London.
Questions answered by Sian Whitmore, Senior FF&E Designer at LW Design.
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with Goddard Littlefair for their take on a One Stop Doctors, click here to see more
Entries to the SBID Awards 2017 are now closed. To find out more about booking a table, click here
LW DESIGN | SBID International Design Awards 2017
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features Devonshire Club, a sophisticated and opulently feminine interpretation of a private members’ club set in the illustrious heart of the U.K, which has been imaginatively conceived by March & White’s creative London-based design team.
When commissioned to create Devonshire Club in the heart of The City of London, the design team eschewed the clichés of masculinity that are almost mandatory in the culture of private members’ club. Opting instead for a confident, feminine and creative muse, they composed a place that feels invigorating, exciting and chic. Devonshire Club’s interior has been developed through the layering of mid-century influence. A 1950s-inspired architectural base is layered with the softer femininity of fashion design, incorporating its glamorous pattern, texture and colour. This process has successively produced a unique series of spaces, each with their own character yet subtly connected to the next.
Company: March & White
Project: Devonshire Club, London
Our clients philosophy for Devonshire Club was to create an elegant interior design scheme for an iconic members’ club and hotel destination for London’s city elite; a glamorous and subtly feminine space which confidently speaks of creativity and sophistication.
Devonshire Club’s interior was developed through the layering of mid-century influence. We created a 50’s inspired architectural base and layered this with the softer femininity of fashion design, incorporating its glamorous pattern, texture and colour. This process enabled us to successively produce a unique series of spaces each with their own character yet subtly connected to the next.
We passionately studied the instinctive elegance of Italian design heritage. From Gio Ponti’s breath-taking pattern work, the purity of Carlo Scapa’s detailing and through to the beautiful intricate moulded ceilings of Milan’s Villa Necchi. These timeless signifiers of sophisticated elegance inspired us as we composed an interior which is entirely unique and fresh.
A private members club has a complex purpose and by adding to this 70 hotel suites above for the use of members, the logistics, functionality and performance for the Club as a whole required scientific analysis. Aesthetically, each room, each space of the club, needed to have a sense of the unique whilst being an episode in a larger, entire, piece. We very much enjoyed the challenge of bringing these elements together, so much so that with the thrill of seeing and experiencing the result of the process, any challenges seem to fade.
As always there are many, many highlights to an interior design project of this scale and status but a few in particular would have to include the commitment to bespoke craft throughout the Club which makes it truly unique and defines the March & White signature. We worked closely with the Italian textile house Nattier, developing bespoke rugs, fabrics and wallcoverings, involving exhaustive rounds of sampling to ensure the perfect outcome for the Club. We also worked with the exceptional Murano glass specialists Seguso, who helped us create the incredible and totally bespoke chandelier for the Club’s reception entrance. Both of these processes produced amazing and rewarding results.
We very much admire the work of SBID and would feel honoured to receive one of their awards. We are also very proud of our design for Devonshire Club and feel SBID is the perfect place to showcase our work at the Club.
Questions answered by Harriet Liley, Senior Interior Designer at March & White.
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with Muza Lab for Kanuhura Resort, Click Here
Entries to the SBID Awards 2017 are now closed. To find out more about booking a table, Click Here
March & White | SBID International Design Awards 2017
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