A classic road trip may seem like the perfect opportunity to wrap your hands around a Big Mac or Gordita Supreme, but undoubtedly by the time you reach the next exit you’re wishing you’d opted for something…
Continue Reading…
Places like Portland, Vancouver or Copenhagen may be the first that pop to mind when thinking about cities whose residents successfully combine a progressive attitude with a laid back approach to life. But slowly sneaking onto the scene is Columbus—Ohio’s industrious state capital and one of the world’s smartest cities,…
Continue Reading…
A McDonald’s restaurant and a petrol station are concealed within this faceted glass shell in Georgia, designed by architect Giorgi Khmaladze (+ slideshow).
“The city officials wanted to avoid having a regular gas station in the middle of the area, which right now is undergoing major renewal,” Giorgi Khmaladze told Dezeen. “From that departure point, I proposed to combine two programs in one building footprint.”
The structure, located in the coastal town of Batumi, features an elongated shape that cantilevers on one side to create the canopy for the petrol station. The entrance to McDonald’s is positioned on the opposite side, as the architect wanted to keep the two as separate as possible.
“Spaces are composed in such a way that the two major programs – vehicle services and dining – are isolated from one another, both physically and visually,” explains Khmaladze.
Serving areas are contained inside the building’s circular core. Staircases wind around the outside of the circle on both sides, leading up past a series of tiered seating booths towards a dining area on the first floor.
Glass lines the perimeter of the dining area and a terrace wraps around the outside. Rather than a view down onto the petrol station and road, diners are faced with the sloping topside of the canopy, which the architect has covered with beds of shrubbery.
Two pools of water are positioned around the outside of the building and help to define different routes for pedestrians and cars.
McDonalds has also recently been working with French designer Patrick Norguet, who has redesigned its restaurants across France. See more design for McDonalds.
Other chain restaurants to be redesigned in recent years include British roadside restaurant Little Chef and Burger King diners in Singapore. See more chain restaurant designs.
Photography is by the architect.
Here’s some more information from Giorgi Khmaladze:
The project is located in one of the newly urbanized parts of the seaside city of Batumi, Georgia. It includes fuels station, McDonald’s, recreational spaces and reflective pool.
Given the central location and therefore importance of the site, it was decided to give back as much area as possible for recreation to the city by limiting the footprint of the building and vehicular circulation. This resulted in one volume with all programs compressed within.
Spaces are composed in such a way that the two major programs – vehicle services and dining – are isolated from one another, both physically and visually so that all operations of fuel station are hidden from the view of the customers of the restaurant.
Because of the predefined, small building footprint, most of the supporting and utility spaces are grouped and located on the ground level to be close to all technical access points.
Public space of the restaurant starts from the lobby and its separate entrance on the ground floor. From where, as a way to naturally connect to the upper floor and to offer customers the experience of smooth transition between levels, the floor steps upwards and creates inhabitable decks on intermediate levels to be occupied as dining spaces.
Part of the dining space offers view towards outside water features, while the rest seamlessly transitions into open air patio on the upper level. The patio, enclosed from all sides to protect the space from outside noise, provides calm open air seating. The vegetation layer, which covers the cantilevered giant canopy of the fuel station adds natural environment and acts as a “ecological shield” for the terrace.
Project: Fuel Station + McDonalds
Architect: Giorgi Khmaladze (Khmaladze Architects)
Collaborators: Capiteli (Structural Engineer), Gulfstream (MEP), Archange & Schloffer (MCD Standards), Franke (Kitchen engineering), Erco (exterior lighting).
Location: Batumi, Georgia
Year: 2010-11 Design, 2012-13 Construction
Size: 1200 sqm
Client: SOCAR
The post Fuel Station + McDonalds
by Giorgi Khmaladze appeared first on Dezeen.
by Emily Millett While the newly appointed government of Cyprus struggles to save the island’s economy with another bailout plan with the EU, deep in the heart of the tiny capital of Nicosia, a pulse still beats loud and strong. Pounding to the rhythm of determined non-conformity and anti-establishment nonchalance,…
Continue Reading…
by Emily Millett While the newly appointed government of Cyprus struggles to save the island’s economy with another bailout plan with the EU, deep in the heart of the tiny capital of Nicosia, a pulse still beats loud and strong. Pounding to the rhythm of determined non-conformity and anti-establishment nonchalance,…
Continue Reading…
In Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood, the red brick building that houses The Spice Table has become known as the go-to spot for the soulful flavors of Southeast Asia. With a menu highlighting some of his favorite dishes inspired by travels to Singapore and Vietnam, Chef Bryant Ng has…
Continue Reading…
The interior of this Hong Kong restaurant by architect Nelson Chow was inspired by Malaysia’s bustling night markets and traditional coffee shops (+ slideshow).
Old Street Kobiteh restaurant, located in the Popcorn shopping mall in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O district, was designed by Nelson Chow to reference the 1920s Malaysian coffee shops called “kopitiam”.
“Kopitiam serve dishes from different ethnicities so that people from different backgrounds can all dine together,” says Chow, who chose to accentuate this communal aspect with an 11-metre-long dining table.
The table comprises 30 smaller units, each decorated with a different tile pattern found in the Malaysian streetscape.
To create the ambience of a night market, Chow placed neon signs alongside light fixtures inspired by old street lamps.
Opposite the long table is an open kitchen where chefs occasionally perform tea ceremonies in front of the customers.
A high ledge above the banquette seating displays vintage plates and hand-drawn menus.
We’ve previously featured two fashion boutiques designed by Chow – one with a suspended ceiling made from hundreds of white cables and another monochrome space for the same brand.
Other restaurants we’ve published recently include a Parisian hamburger joint inspired by the lights of New York’s theatre district and a dining room overlooking the pitch at Greek football club Olympiacos – see all restaurants.
See all projects in Hong Kong »
Photographs are by Dennis Lo Designs.
Above: floor plan – click for larger image
Here’s some information from the architects:
A Kopitiam dining experience that recalls the old Malaysian streetscape
Old Street Kobiteh is a recently completed restaurant in Hong Kong that references a traditional kopitiam (coffee house) while taking on elements inspired from the contemporary Malaysian streetscape. The kopitiam is an unique Malaysian institution originating from the 1920s. Its name reflects the country’s multi-ethnic society: kopi is the Malay term for coffee, and tiam is the Hokkien word for shop. Kopitiam serve dishes from different ethnicities so that people from different backgrounds can all dine together under the same roof. This communal aspect is the main inspiration for the open concept at Old Street Kobiteh which is centered around a 37 foot long dining table.
The central table is comprised of 30 modular units, each showcasing a different tile pattern from the Malaysian vernacular streetscape. Together they form a colorful mosaic display that recalls the hustle and bustle of the vibrant Malaysian urban center. Particular inspiration comes from the night market, where streets are filled with hawkers preparing dishes in front of the customers, generating plenty of sounds & aromas to create an exciting dining experience. Custom details include light fixtures inspired by old street lamps along with neon signs which contribute to the overall ambience of a night market. At Old Street Kobiteh, an open kitchen is placed opposite the communal table, with a continuous upper ledge showcasing hand drawn menus, vintage plates and an assortment of the restaurants food offerings. The strategic placement allows the chef to engage with the diners by performing periodical acts such as Teh Terik pulled tea ceremony.
On one level, the design of Old Street Kobiteh showcases how the spirit of the Malaysian streetscape could be translated architecturally into a Kopitiam restaurant within a conventional mall setting. On another level, it showcases a holistic approach to restaurant design, seamlessly integrating the design of the restaurant’s interior, furniture, lighting fixtures, graphics, staff uniforms, while incorporating found vintage objects. By crafting an aesthetic from the mood and lighting of a space right down to its detailed components, the end result is a visually striking yet highly functional family style contemporary restaurant.
Project Title: Old Street Kobiteh Restaurant
Location: Shop G09, Popcorn Mall, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong
Interior Design: NC Design & Architecture Ltd (NCDA)
Project Designer: Nelson Chow (NCDA)
Graphic Design: NC Design & Architecture Ltd (NCDA) and Whatever Workshop Ltd
Client: Buick Management Limited
The post Old Street Kobiteh
by Nelson Chow appeared first on Dezeen.
The bright lights of Broadway and the Eiffel Tower’s ironwork inspired the interior of this Parisian hamburger restaurant by French studio Cut Architectures (+ slideshow).
Located in the 10th arrondissement, Paris New-York’s interior combines the trademark styles of the two cities, according to Cut Architectures.
Outside the restaurant, a small dining area is covered by a canopy in the style of a theatre or cinema entrance and fitted with a grid of white bulbs.
The bulbs continue along the black ceiling inside and are reflected in the mirrored back wall.
The bar and staircase are covered with sheets of aluminium fixed down with round head rivets, referencing classic American chrome trailers.
Black and white cement tiles inspired by Parisian hallways cover the floors.
The exposed steel structure inside the staircase references both the Statue of Liberty and the ironwork of the Eiffel Tower.
The black ceiling and bare walls upstairs continue the restaurant’s monochrome palette.
We previously featured an apartment full of dotty perforated screens and a cafe decorated with scientific apparatus by the same designers – see all projects by Cut Architectures.
Other restaurant interiors we’ve published lately include a dining room carpeted with fake grass and a canteen with tree-like sculptures growing out of the tables – see all restaurants.
Photographs are by David Foessel.
Here’s some more information from the designers:
Paris New-York restaurant is the latest joint of the flourishing hamburger restaurant scene in Paris. The meat and the ingredients are carefully selected to offer high quality burgers.
PNY design is a blend of NYC and Paris cultures and spirits, yet trying to avoid clichés. The black ceiling is pierced by a grid of light bulbs reminding of the Broadway cinemas and theatre fronts, echoing the black and white cement tiles floor iconic of the Parisian hallways.
Mirrors are diffracting the light bulbs on the ground floor and reflecting the bare walls on the first floor. Referring to the Eiffel structures and the copper-clad Statue of Liberty, the steel structure of the bar and staircase is covered with raw aluminium boards attached with the round-head rivets used on the Airstream caravans. The steel structure is revealed inside the staircase.
Above: ground floor plan
Project name: Paris New-York restaurant
Programme: Burger restaurant
Address: Paris (10th)
Client: Paris New-York
Above: first floor plan
Size: 90 sq m
Date: Drawings started in May 2012, end of work December 2012
Cost: €180,000 excl. VAT
Above: section
The post Paris New-York by
Cut Architectures appeared first on Dezeen.
By Emily Millett Surprisingly edgy and forward-thinking, Amman—the capital and largest city of Jordan—is cruising confidently along the cusp between contemporary vision and deep-seated Arabic tradition. Evident in its cuisine, lifestyle and vibrant emerging arts scene, the often-bypassed capital city is a perfect choice for young culture vultures seeking a…
Continue Reading…
By Andrea Dicenzo In the ancient city of Jerusalem, a new breed of creative minds are transforming this religious mecca into a cultural springboard deserving of its own pilgrims. The city holds the title of the most touristed city in Israel, with most of the visitors arriving to pay tribute…
Continue Reading…
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
