Timber was king at last weeks awards in London. Hosted by the Royal Institute of British Architects the two top gongs went to European projects: one in Spain, the other in Bulgaria.

Best Restaurant 2012 was presented to A Cantina, a project by Estudio Nomada.

Essentially a long, lofty hall – the main, communal dining tables are arranged beneath a dramatic framework of timber elements, suggestive of an abstract forest.

Housed within the new City of Culture, a multi-million euro museum and cultural hub in the North Eastern city of Galicia; A Cantina impressed the judging panel with its straightforward approach to creating a definitive sense of character and place within such a vast, otherwise uninviting, shell.

Sparing application of colour and a minimal use of materials – serving to engage the guest from the very first impression.

In the Bulgarian city of Varna, the Gallery Hotel’s Graffiti Bar earned Mode Design both the Best Bar Overall and Best European Bar award.

The arresting space radiates out from three intricately detailed but oversized central timber pillars that run the length of the venue – like giant, turned-timber posts.

Set over two tiers, the bar carries the prominent timber aesthetic through into the custom table supports and across the roof in a series of equally as intricate radial patterns.

Subtle lighting elements integrated into the masonry floor and up one feature wall, offer a brilliant backdrop when viewed from the street, by night.

Local talent was also well represented on the evening. March Studio picked up the Australia Pacific Region Award for their Baker D. Chirico bakery in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Also embracing the warm, familiar characteristics of timber, March Studio were able to fashion a cost-effective retail space with a strong sense of motion and movement.

An attractive slat and bracketed arrangement of irregular timber panels contrast charmingly against the checkerboard floor tiles and stripped back concrete walls.

The full gallery of winners can be viewed on the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards website.

Images © RABDA

Restaurant and Bar Design Awards 2012

restaurantandbardesignawards.com

March Studio

marchstudio.com.au

Mode Design Studio

studiomode.eu

Estudio Nomada

estudionomada.es