WINNER
Meraki Riyadh
by CADA Design, for Meraki
Meraki, a Greek restaurant concept first launched in London in 2017, has just opened a permanent site in Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh. Known for showcasing the best of Greek hospitality, including the warmth of welcome, the design and the ambience, Meraki wanted to maintain this reputation, but also sought a refreshed design concept for its newest branch.
So the Waney family, who founded Meraki, reached out to CADA, a London-based design studio, to create an entirely new environment in which to celebrate Greek cuisine. With the country’s culture and ecology forming the backbone of their approach, the team at CADA chose to pay homage to Greece’s olive trees, natural wood and greenery by implementing them into the restaurant’s interior. This earthy aesthetic is complemented by a feature wall made of stones from a local quarry, and triangular tiles around the windows that evoke classical Greek detailing. Each of these features, along with a fabric ceiling that is reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea, come together to create the look and feel of one of the country’s iconic islands.
The judges said: “Very lovely and unexpected use of materials, such as the bamboo screens repurposed for the ceiling raft. I felt immediately transported. Lovely furniture, fixtures and equipment too.”
Casa Dani
by Rockwell Group, for SBE Entertainment Group
Casa Dani, a new restaurant situated within dining and drinking complex Citizens New York, is an invitation into chef Dani García’s culinary home. Designed by architecture firm Rockwell Group, the restaurant draws heavily on the buildings and landscapes of southern Spain and the Andalusian region where Chef García is originally from.
In the main part of the restaurant, guests are greeted by a grand, double-height sunken dining room built to reflect a traditional Spanish central courtyard. Fittingly, the space exhibits a Mediterranean palette featuring light wood, warm clay plaster, tile, and marble, with a dynamic undulating ceiling and rustic terracotta floor. This movement is subtly mimicked by an emerald green tile-clad fireplace that also boasts a soft, undulating design. Elsewhere, an L-shaped bar with a green sculpted marble counter and ivory leather stools sits adjacent to a kitchen framed by glass and a brushed stainless steel box that overlooks the room and offers a glimpse of the theatrics of cooking. The restaurant’s Mediterranean influence is continued in the lounge area which, alongside solid marble tables, custom banquettes and counter-height seating, features potted olive trees that reference the Spanish region’s prized exports.
Civilian
by Rockwell Group, for Sixty Collective/Joy Construction
Situated in New York’s Theater District, Civilian is a 27-storey hotel that looks to merge accessible luxury, functionality, and high design, with a focus on convenience and bespoke experiences. The space includes guestrooms, restaurant, secret garden, guest lounge, library, and rooftop bar overlooking the city.
The design of the hotel draws heavily on the look and feel of old theatres, referencing the rich history of the area. Marquee-inspired lighting, dramatic curtains, dressing room-style guest rooms, and the industrial materials of backstage theatre are just some of the elements that reflect this influence. There is also a first-of-its-kind curated art program, titled the Olio Collection, which features permanent and rotating works by emerging and established theatre creatives and Broadway photographers. This theatre theme is even tangible at the entrance to Civilian, which was designed to feel like a discreet side stage door, leading into a runway-like vestibule and then into the heart of the hotel.
The Glenlivet Speyside Visitor Centre
by Blacksheep, for The Glenlivet
Renowned Scottish single malt whisky maker The Glenlivet recruited London-based design studio Blacksheep to create a new visitor centre at its distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Aimed at immersing guests in The Glenlivet’s rich history, the main inspiration for the design was the beautifully rugged area that surrounds its home: Cairngorms National Park.
Set across the ground and lower floors of the distillery, the visitor centre allows guests to embark on a guided explorative journey through various spaces that bring The Glenlivet story to life. These spaces showcase local materials and craftsmanship, from a custom chandelier made from dried wildflowers native to Scotland, to a sweeping field of indoor barley hand-harvested by local farmer Alan Petrie. Bespoke pieces of furniture were also built for the centre, such as cabinetry designed by Blacksheep to display some of The Glenlivet’s historical archive and a bespoke mosaic floor by Scottish artist and ceramic maker Helen Miles. Surrounded by these beautiful nods to Scottish heritage, visitors can experience exclusive bottlings, immersive tours, whisky tastings, and learn about the age-old production process behind the whisky itself.
Hospitality Interiors
shortlisted
Miller & Lux Restaurant
by Ken Fulk, for Miller & Lux
Forming part of the new Chase Center in San Francisco, home to the Golden State Warriors basketball team, Miller & Lux is a restaurant created to be as “show stopping” as the action taking place inside. Designed by Ken Fulk, Miller & Lux markets itself as an old-school American steakhouse fit for NBA players and fans alike.
The main dining room exhibits a mid-century Californian glamour, with a timeless yet dramatic style. Caramel leather booths, floor-to-ceiling fluted columns and hand-crafted burnished accents surround low banquettes all made to feel like “the power table”. Custom chandeliers, including a large tassel drum chandelier in the private dining room, give the space a moody ambience, offset with pops of colour from the turquoise mohair seating and Californian quail and poppy velvet curtains. Elsewhere, the bar and lounge offer a contrastingly contemporary aesthetic, providing a lively atmosphere in the former, and a more discreet, relaxed feel in the latter.