Dramatic and striking, this restaurant and cocktail bar makes it clear it does not use the name of New York City’s famous Theatre District in vain with help from the creative minds at RICE Design.
For the past few years, there has been a type of renaissance where drinking holes are concerned thanks to people becoming more discerning in general about the type of drinks they consume and the ambiance of the drinking establishment. Instead of only caring about the variety and quality of their alcoholic beverages, the new generation of alcohol aficionados also want the atmosphere in which they were enjoying their drink to be new, unique and exciting.
Architecture and interior design firm RICE Design Sdn Bhd delivered on all these counts when they took on the task of creating a tasteful and memorable design for a new restaurant and cocktail bar in Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai. The result of their hard work was Broadway which, as the name implies, was strongly inspired by America’s Broadway theatre scene.
Sporting a highly and appropriately dramatic look, the design is meant to take people back to the 1950s for a fun time. This was accomplished through the use of traditional American elements and aesthetics as well as natural materials. However, the designers also applied their own interpretation of these things in order to create a lively bar and dining experience. The first thing that the establishment’s patrons see and is likely to take them completely by surprise when they walk inside is the lit-up geometric ceiling.
A breath-taking element that has an air of aristocracy to it, it is an incredibly elaborate lighting feature that was built into the ceiling. It is made up of strong irregular geometric lines as well as changeable lightings and effects, allowing it to give the bar a futuristic outer space look. Additionally, the effects and colour of the lightings can be manually changed either to match the theme of the night or simply to suit the preferences of the bartender.
Further accentuating the space’s 1950s feel, parts of the bar area’s wall was covered with strong and bold flowery wallpaper that would not look out of place at a vintage retro theatre. This is a stark contrast to the stone-filled gabion concept walls of the VIP room which serves the dual purpose of giving this restricted area a secretive feel and providing the room with excellent sound insulation.
Patrons who venture up to the first floor will be treated to a completely different experience as they find themselves greeted with a combination of large bold red window curtains and long wooden tables and chairs. However, the highlight of this area is undoubtedly the starlight ceiling which gives the space an outdoor feel by adding an open and roofless effect to the entire floor. Those who choose to dine and drink here will feel as if they are doing so under a sky full of stars thanks to the extension of a starlight panel that runs throughout the ceiling of the entire floor.
For more information, visit RICE Design Sdn Bhd
