FOCUS 055
Callie
San Diego, USA
THE CALLIE RESTAURANT design project, by Los Angeles- based Studio UNLTD, includes the replacement of the interiors of a 638 sq m space on the ground floor of a corporate high-rise in San Diego, California. Te restaurant is chef Travis Swikard’s first solo venture and its design tells the story of an intrepid explorer who has returned home after travelling abroad to gather knowledge and inspiration for new endeavours.
A collection of materials and fabrics inspired by a Mediterranean-meets-California palette are on show. Skate and surf references throughout the space disrupt the old-world aesthetic and bring moments of rebellion and energy inspired by Swikard.
Above The chef’s show kitchen brings the restaurant’s experience together, with an exhaust hood made of corten steel that conjures up images of a rusted ship’s hull
Right The dining area’s tone is set by a relaxed coastal feel, and the bar lounge features a stone-clad cocktail bar
‘We love getting to work with a client that has the passion to do what they do like Travis Swikard,’ said Greg Bleier, Studio UNLTD’s founding principal. ‘When we partner with chefs that bring a lot to the table, it makes our job even more enjoyable and because we are meeting their intensity with similar energy, the results can be really special. Finding that connection and being able to deliver a design that is, at once, very personal and in strict alignment with the client’s values and goals is a great feeling. Tis was very much the case with our design for Callie and I just know this will translate into great success for the restaurant.’
On entering the space, guests are invited to unwind in the eclectic bar lounge which is anchored by a dramatic ‘breaking wave’ made from massive, raw glulam beams, suspended over the corten steel and stone-clad cocktail bar. Te dramatic arched bar design aims to mimic the barrel of a wave, with architectural lighting, colour
scheme and material finishes at the bar all intended to bring the effect of the ‘golden hour’ as day transitions to the evening.
In the dining area, seating sets the tone with a relaxed, coastal feel, including plant life, marine blue chairs and rust-coloured booths. Te large scooped two-way banquette – which acts as a buffer to the bar area – is upholstered in concrete grey and features a yellow rail backrest, offering a reference to the southern California image of a skate park.
Surrounding the dining room on three-sides is a floor- to-ceiling wine room, a private dining room and the chef’s show kitchen, the focal point of the proceedings. Hanging above the kitchen’s stone-clad pass counter, its exhaust hood is clad in a v-shape of corten steel conjuring a rusted ship’s hull. Te private dining room is surrounded by partitions of steel and glass-faced with shelving.
calliesd.com
ALL IMAGES: LUCIANNA MCINTOSH
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