Parable Studio weaves a narrative about new encounters in rethinking the model of the all-day-dining restaurant in hotels.
April 12th, 2018
Many hotel all-day-dining restaurants suffer the problem of being filled at breakfast by hotel guests but are hardly filled during the day. When tasked to design Park Hotel Clarke Quay’s new all-day-dining restaurant Porta, Parable Studio took the opportunity to rethink the way these establishments could be better designed to increase patronage from morning to evening.
As groundwork, the design team spoke to people around the Robertson Quay area. Aside from tourists, there were office workers who wanted a quick lunch and also expatriate mothers who wanted a coffee place with a spot of retail.
“For diners now, we’re finding that it’s not about getting more luxurious experiences but when they put their money down, they want to get good value for their experiences: is it immersive enough? Does it facilitate what they want to do? It’s not just food, décor and experience separately but how all these come together,” says Ken Yuktasevi, one of Parable Studio’s founding partners.
Their answer was a narrative-strong experience. “It’s got to have an interesting story, not just function as a hotel restaurant,” says Yuktasevi. The design team came up with an imaginary tale of a well-travelled import and fine foods retailer opening up his secret cargo to the neighbourhood, welcoming customers into his world of travel and exploration. Nautical and mystical symbols such as a tiled compass on the floor and an imaginary three-legged crow manifest on screen doors and menus, accentuating the theme.
A homely ambience was created, with the long space segmented into a series of ‘rooms’, like in a home, demarcated with wall dividers and floor finishes. Terracotta hexagonal tiles alternate with broken tile and marble pieces embedded in poured concrete for a rustic-industrial vibe. Brass accents in lighting and flooring strips add a bit of shine.
There are multiple entryways to facilitate ease of access. A retail and food display area makes a warm welcome, where customers can purchase fine cheeses and unique ingredients the restaurant uses in its dishes. A sliding glass door display counter enables food to be quickly taken from the preparation area, displaying cold food for the morning buffet and cakes and confectionery during teatime.
Many other elements also do double duty: a coffee station in the morning buffet becomes a bar counter at night; the ‘library’, a space decked with lounge furniture and shelved with magazines and nautical knick-knacks houses buffet counters in the morning while tables and chairs are brought in during the night for formal dining.
A variety of seating types offer options for groups or couples: low-slung outdoor furniture at the alfresco area, cove seating alongside normal tables and chairs within, and a private dining room adorned with a custom-designed element above that could either represent a ship’s hull or animal bones.
Intrigue alongside functionality? Porta has got both aplenty. It’s a formula that appears to work. Since the renovation, patronage has doubled, attesting to the success of the design.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
A hospitality venue in the heart of Osaka comprising four dining options – a place where nostalgic pastimes meet high-end dining.
Third in the series of boutique hotels under the Lloyd’s Inn brand, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur bring the immediacy of nature to the new high-rise hospitality experience in the heart of a bustling city.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
With Milan 2024 only a few weeks away, we sneak a view of some of the most exciting pieces set to go on show – from lighting design to furniture, here are nine preview products.
From the trailblazer of Spanish industrial design comes a new collection of recycled rugs – a powerful exploration of the concept of waste, a keen celebration of imperfection, and a new underfoot symbol of responsible design.
Dallas Rogers, Head of Urban Discipline at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, comments on the history of map-making in our cities.
When iconic brands wield their influence, the ripples extend far beyond aesthetics. And so when the MillerKnoll collective formed, the very concept of design shifted, supercharging the industry’s aspiration to create a better world into an unwavering sense of responsibility to do so.