Hospitality Interiors

The Libertine by Studio Found, for Incipio Group The Libertine, a new hospitality venue, located in Grade I listed vaults beneath the Royal Exchange in London, is Incipio Group’s latest venture. Known for its transformation of overlooked spaces into premium drinking and dining destinations, Incipio wanted to push the boat out even further for this next project, calling it its “most ambitious” one to date. Hoping to create an “unforgettable” venue, Incipio enlisted the help of local retail design experts Studio Found, who assisted it in building an interior worthy of such a magnificent space. Studio Found drew on the building’s long history, including its establishment as the first venue in Britain to sell alcohol, to design a functional venue with references to its past. Key aspects that they introduced to the space – which features a bar, restaurant, open kitchen, private dining room, and apothecary – include glazed antique brass framework, copper beer tanks, charred timber and fumed oak, and handmade grasshopper tiles. Coupled with antique furniture, objects and artworks, the interior proudly displays its rich history, inviting customers into a cosy and memorable dining experience. Our judges said: “A highly sophisticated response to an incredible piece of architectural history. Refined and eye-catching.”

The Alchemist, Spinningfields by DesignLSM, for The Alchemist Located in Manchester, The Alchemist is an all-day drinking and dining destination that draws inspiration from humanity’s fascination with its origins, as well as the origins of the wider universe, to create an immersive and atmospheric experience. Recently, the original space was overhauled to make way for the designs of multidisciplinary studio DesignLSM, who brought to The Alchemist a new vision for its site in the city’s Spinningfields area. Playing on its pre-existing philosophical and astronomical themes, DesignLSM introduced a rich new colour palette, captivating patterns and illustrations, and statement furniture and fixtures, each of which nod to influences such as space, supernovas, swirling gasses, the orbital pathways of planets, and the daily transition of the sun. As a result, The Alchemist now boasts a striking interior that stays faithful to its foundational themes, whilst allowing for a sociable and vibrant customer experience.

Control Room B, Battersea Power Station by Ellis Design Studio, for Inception Ventures Group In late 2022, Battersea Power Station in London opened its doors to the public for the first time since it closed in 1983. Inside the newly revamped Grade II* listed building is a vast array of shops, restaurants and bars, and among the latter is a 4,500 sqft bar called Control Room B. Taking its name from the original control room that was built on the site in 1955, the bar was designed by local studio Ellis Design Studio and inspired by the unique history of the power station. This history can be seen up close and personal within the bar’s interior, which features the restored panels and switches of the old control room. These are set against walls and octagonal columns which bear the original blue faience tiles, as well as the dramatic arc of the original stainless steel control desk, all of which combine to form an atmospheric space that feels at once retro and contemporary. Elsewhere, other features align with and complement this modernist style, including domed lights, mid-century patterned furniture. and a turbine-inspired metallic sculpture at the centre of the bar, which pays tribute to the power station’s industrial past.

Katsuya by Rockwell Group, for C3 (sbe)/Brookfield Katsuya, a Japanese restaurant situated in Citizens Food Hall in New York, is a modern take on the country’s treasured traditions of craftsmanship and artistry. Designed by New York-based architecture firm Rockwell Group, the restaurant achieves a vibrant yet elegant aesthetic through several eye-catching features. These include a deep red colour palette throughout that uses urushi lacquer to reference Japan’s iconic torii gates, as well as a laser cut out of the restaurant’s name in the ceiling that nods to the Japanese interior design concept of ‘ma’, meaning negative space. Elsewhere, ribbed glass screens evoke the translucent appearance of shōji paper; a custom chandelier featuring an undulating form is reminiscent of waves; and ornamental kumiki joinery in black powder coated metal pays homage to Japan’s famous woodworking techniques. Finally, fans and the performers who once used them, as well as a checkerboard pattern named after Edo period actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu reference Kabuki, a classical form of theatre.

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Sake No Hana by, Rockwell Group, for Lightstone Beneath the Moxy NYC hotel in New York’s Lower East Side is Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana. Having opened its doors in 2022, the venue has become known for its lavish and dynamic interior. Designed by Rockwell Group, the restaurant draws on both its Japanese roots as well as the local history of the area by mixing 1980s New York punk style with yankii, a youth street culture in Japan that embraces an American-themed rock ’n’ roll attitude. As such, the inside of the restaurant is filled with materials like leather, brick, wood, lush silks, velvets, and Japanese horsehair. Upon entering the main dining space from the ground floor of the hotel, customers pass through a set of metal patterned doors inlaid with glass and are greeted by a dazzling deconstructed kimono installation. The stairs leading down feature a leather guardrail, while the floor below boasts wood-look porcelain tiles and the ceiling above is adorned with a truss-like metal structure. Together these elements make for a dramatic entrance to the restaurant, which throughout plays on the rebellious biker theme and juxtaposes this with more traditional sentiments such as floral wallcoverings, light wood lathe curves, and a chandelier inspired by Japanese pottery.

Chasing Rabbits by Rockwell Group, for Solaris Group Chasing Rabbits in Vail, Colorado is a Mediterranean restaurant that blends a minimalist aesthetic with quirky features and occasional pops of colour. Designed by Rockwell Group, the space draws on the mountainous surroundings to inspire its materiality, which includes marble, stone and various types of wood, to name but a few. In the main dining area, light Douglas Fir adorns the walls, along with chiselled stone tiles layered behind walnut screens. In the Library, which functions as a lounge and extended dining room, the walls and ceilings also boast wood panelling, along with a parquet wood floor and custom wall sconces. At the back of the room, in pride of place, is an Andrew Martin artwork featuring a woman in a space suit with a light-up neon red helmet. Meanwhile, in the Playhouse, which includes a games room, club and screening room, the retro feel is dialled up even further through the inclusion of an 80s arcade, DJ booth, photo booth, popcorn machine and air hockey table, all surrounded by plenty of neon lighting, infinity mirrors, acoustic material walls and geometric motifs.