H2R Design design Third Avenue Boutique, a stylish fine dining restaurant situated in Dubai Mall’s luxurious Fashion Avenue extension.
The award-winning design studio creating renowned commercial and hospitality spaces were tasked to design a contemporary hotspot offering fashionable gourmet and showcasing exquisite handmade chocolates and the brand’s own range of perfumes. In addition to the Third Avenue Boutique’s spacious interiors, the design also had to incorporate the venue’s distinct feature, the mall’s most extensive terrace overlooking the world-famous Burj Khalifa and fountain views.
Third Avenue Boutique’s interiors were developed to create a luxurious fine dining experience catering to distinguished shoppers and bespoke diners. While the design brief called for opulence, H2R Design understood that the core concept begins with the ideology of “food is fashion,” where fashion is more than style or clothes. Instead, it’s the way people do things differently and the root of change.
To satisfy the expectations of the client and diners, H2R Design wanted to deliver a mood-aware experience that is intimate but with a heightened sense of glamour. Where the “food is fashion” concept has not only lent itself to the unique, inspirational, and visionary menu but also to the lighting, angles, materials, and perspectives of the dining experience.
The design aesthetic of Third Avenue Boutique is wholly contemporary from the shopfront glass façade with large scale gradient, respectfully classic to its metal arches, to the layered ceiling paneling.
Marbled flooring, with the most extravagant natural stones, covers the ground as a luxurious and cultural symbol of architectural refinement. Carrara White and Armani Grey stones were used to display refined taste. Alternate marbled coloured patterns where placed angled to space to create depth, and a dynamic feel and movement.
The team incorporated a Piet Mondrian inspired wall of vertical and horizontal line compositions to strengthen asymmetries. Characterized by a rigid geometry of squares and rectangles that are striking in their simplicity, the rich Mondrian Style black ribbed wood paneling was designed to pronounce the complexity and character of the space. At the same time, the gold accent strips create definition. The walls further reinforce the modern design while the color warms the interiors and fills it with shadows and absorbs from the bright exterior spaces.
The design also features a Brass Metal Cornice. It was purposefully used by the team as brass metal adds a touch of elegance and industrial style but with a very eclectic appeal. Given that floor is a U-shape layout with two plots merged together, having a bold and robust element like brass metal traveling across the whole restaurant connected both spaces.
Another unique feature includes the floor to ceiling digital lightboxes on the restaurant’s walls. The lightbox displays have graphics that change periodically to showcase themes that match the menu. These themes set the moods of the space while also inspiring seasonal menu appetites.
The bar display counter features emerald ribbed panels and painted tempered fluted glass cladding to provide a textured appearance creating interest and visual balance. Although working with the fluted and ribbed glass was difficult when shaping consistency, H2R Design was able to mold it into the desired form.
The overall furnishing style at Third Avenue Boutique is contemporary; however, classic shapes and textures were used to further support the lush atmosphere. The chairs, in particular with their velour fabrics, deep colors, and idyllic curvature, represent the modern feel yet capturing timeless design.
“Our aim was to redefine the functional F&B experience and to add luster, elegance, and allure to space. We turned the requirement of retail essentials and the infiltration of product displays into design features complementing the dining journey. We also created a holistic impression that empathises with the needs of diners while also elevating their experience with the interiors.
While this project was full of surprises and design challenges, it also was a passion project, and we are very proud of the result,” commented Hasan & Husain Roomi, Co-Founder of H2R Design.