The 2013 winners were announced overnight, with innovative, contemporary projects vying for one of the world’s most anticipated interiors awards. Ola Bednarczuk reports from London.
September 13th, 2013
Pared-back monochrome interiors were the order of the day at the fifth annual Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, with Copenhagen’s Höst restaurant and London’s Atrium Champagne Bar taking out the top prizes in the Best Restaurant and Best Bar categories respectively.
Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant
Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant
Höst’s restrained design, a collaboration between Norm Architects and Danish designers Menu, was praised by the judging panel for its elegance, attention to detail and “folky sophistication”. The interior combines a contemporary urban and rural Scandinavian aesthetic where greenery and natural timber give warmth to an otherwise stark concrete and exposed brick interior. The subtlety of its design belies a clever storytelling, in which every aspect of the restaurant – from the menu to the interior – works together to create a distinctive mood and experience.
Höst – Denmark – Overall Best Restaurant
Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar
The Foster and Partners-designed Atrium Champagne Bar, part of the recently refurbished ME Hotel in central London, also exudes a minimalist albeit more contemporary style, with a focus on contrasting colours, strong geometric forms and striking lighting features. Described by judge David Kester as combining “an appropriate mix of elegance with a touch of champagne decadence,” Atrium is a perfect example of how luxury is now being defined more by choice of material and space than opulence.
Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar
Atrium – United Kingdom – Overall Best Bar
Australasia was well represented in the international categories, with Tony Hobba Architects awarded top prize in the Canteen category for their Third Wave Kiosk in Torquay. Judges commented on the effective use of salvaged materials, which give a weathered effect and echo their coastal surroundings to create the impression of having always belonged to the landscape.
Third Wave Kiosk – Australia – Overall Best Canteen
Third Wave Kiosk – Australia – Overall Best Canteen
Neri&Hu took out the Lighting category with Shenzhen’s The Feast. Its starry night lighting installation was described by the panel as “a wonderful and magical statement of delicacy… working seamlessly from both the exterior and interior, creating drama in what may have otherwise been a hard and overtly minimal space.”
The Feast – China – Overall Best Lighting
The Century – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Restaurant
The Australia & Pacific Restaurant award went to Paring Onions for The Century – a series of moody interiors with striking lighting and sculptural features that, as the judges noted, remain coherent throughout. Judge Sandy Suffield described it as “clever use of a difficult space…. weird and a little bit wonderful.”
Alfred & Constance – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Bar
Alfred & Constance – Australia – Australia & Pacific Best Bar
The equally weird and wonderful Alfred & Constance, designed by Derlot, won top honours in the Australia & Pacific Bar category. Judge Mourad Mazouz described its eclectic mix of vintage objects as “déjà vu well made”, and the jury praised the diversity of the interior as its major strength.
Shyo Ryu Ken – Japan – Asia Best Restaurant
Shyo Ryu Ken – Japan – Asia Best Restaurant
Stile’s Shyo Ryu Ken was awarded Best Restaurant in the Asia category, praised by the judging panel for its stylised modern Japanese aesthetic and bold appearance which nevertheless maintains a warm atmosphere. The best Asian bar award also went to a Japanese project – Cronus, designed by Doyle Collection, with its dramatic and contrasting interiors in a palette of black, brown and gold.
Cronus – Japan – Asia Best Bar
Cronus – Japan – Asia Best Bar
Restaurant & Bar Design Awards
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