Surface Design Awards – Complete

• INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE YEAR - NEW
  This is a new category that recognises wall, floor, ceiling and surface design products, including decorative, creative and inventive surfaces for the interior of buildings including both commercial and residential properties.
• COMMERCIAL BUILDING - INTERIOR
  Commercial Buildings that are used for commercial purposes, and include retail, hospitality, workplaces, factories and warehouses and buildings where commercial services are provided. At least 50 percent of the buildings’ floor space will be used for commercial activities.

The brief called for an opulent interior with vivid colours, noble materials, and intricate details to exude richness, elegance and sophistication.
Various materials and textures have been carefully measured and controlled in the interior design throughout the venue, providing an expert blend of colours which exudes a modern elegance.

The colour palette for the ground floor features vibrant reds and gold metal accents, flooding the space with warm tones: striking red velvet booth seatings are paired with richly decorated fabrics featuring tigers, flamingos and other exotic animals in the style of ancient illustrations from the Far East; turquoise glazed tiles adorn the sushi counter; a golden metal sheet on the rear wall reflects the light softly and draws attention to the sushi counter; cognac-coloured leather bar stools complement the warm tones of the tables, which are finely crafted with a reverse diamond mahogany veneer; terrazzo flooring, spotted with pieces of white marble, resembles the pattern of an Asian cheetah fur and is complemented by the black borders on the wall panels and flute-shaped table legs.
The design was also inspired by the geometric precision of Japanese architecture, based on the modular repetition of tatami mats: interwoven wall panels of paper and linen are intersperse with vertical strips of mirrors on the walls, rectangular light wood panels on the ceiling are framed by darker wooden beams, further enhancing the rigour found in Japanese architecture.

On the first floor, the wooden finishes remain consistent with the ground floor, while the red seating is replaced with velvets in shades of orange and sky blue, paired with dining chairs featuring fabrics with intricate illustrations of paradisiacal gardens. The wall panels are rounded at one end, concealing LED strips illuminating a jacquard fabric with golden floral patterns. The floor is adorned with a geometric mosaic in shades of cerulean blue, terracotta and currant red.
Additional bespoke elements designed by Maria Oliva are the bathroom furnishings, crafted from the same mahogany wood as the tables. The sinks are decorated with gliding cranes, weaving in and out of white cherry blossoms, in line with the Asian-inspired decor throughout the space. The toilets feature a backdrop of blue tiles with ochre shades and a relief of an eye-shaped motif.
The project was completed in December 2022 with an overall cost of about £400,000.

The materials described above and used for the design of the space were carefully selected for their durability, being a commercial project, and to reflect the design concept.
In particular, the ceiling in the central section on the ground floor features an undulating sheet metal that resembles gently rippling water.
Maria Oliva explains: “I was fascinated with the potential of this undulating metal as it resembles a water surface. I immediately thought of the water lantern festivals that are so popular in Asia. I wanted to recreate the theatrical, almost magical atmosphere of these festivals.”
The bespoke pendants were designed to emit a soft light through the perforated gold metal sheets and cascade in a spiral design on the ceiling, reminiscent of the floating lanterns following river currents.

The project has been built to keep material waste at the lowest throughout the space. Measurements of the space have been taken various times while building to ensure an efficient way to manufacture the bespoke joinery elements.

One of the design challenges was the ceiling height. To overcome this, a reflective surface was chosen to disguise the issue and create the illusion of height. This surface reflects the light emitted by custom-made lamps through perforated metal sheets, resulting in a captivating and theatrical ambience. The lamps cascade in a spiral design on the ceiling, reminiscent of floating paper lanterns following river currents, evoking the enchanting atmosphere of water lantern festivals popular in Asia.

Rippled metal finish on the ceiling: Rimex Metals
Flooring on ground floor: Inopera Group
Flooring on first floor: Solus Ceramics
Sushi counter tiles: Parkside
Toilet tiles: Marazzi and Ragno
Metal chain curtain on the first floor: Kriska Decor
Fabric on the back of the chairs on the ground floor: Pierre Frey
Fabric on the back of the chairs on the first floor: Osborne&Little
Fabric on the wall panels on the first floor: Metaphores

Photography: Sonya Metzler