Designer Spot Light- Glorietta

The client’s brief:  The owner had ambitious plans for a new Italian inspired Sydney restaurant and bar. It must be a catalyst for change, inspiring hospitality offerings into a corporate area, previously lacking any. Contemporary yet classic, it intends to be a ‘come for a drink, stay for a meal' kind of place’ and create a warm agricultural ancestry and tone , all within the buildings pre-established constraints.

What we did: Firstly, the space was deconstructed into separate zones. This was achieved by applying a range of floor treatments to contain each space, including polished concrete around the bar and northern dining area, timber boards in the central dining space and concrete slabs surrounding the kitchen. The large scale, volume, view and elevated floor area became advantages to creating theatre and spatial uniqueness.

The clever use of five different seating options further establishes each zone, from a communal table and seating, to the high timber tables and stools at the bar, the olive-green leather banquette, rust-red-toned tables and bentwood chairs. A pizza oven, open kitchen, dining counter and bar ribbon the entry; adding atmosphere and interest, while the main bar was positioned for street visibility and to contain footprint and scale.

Design details: An earthy, organic and warm palette was achieved through the careful selection of contemporary, yet durable, furnishings and fittings. Tonally gentle design elements soften the space from recycled timber, olive and apricot leathers and tiling, rust-red tables, brass, creams and wheat-coloured linen curtains which encircle the venue. A vaulted rattan ceiling ‘cloudscape’ tempers the impact of the silver panelled ceiling.