UAE-based H2R Design has completely renovated Persian restaurant Anar in Dubai’s Souk Madinat Jumeirah with a colourfully modern, yet traditional design.

After nearly a decade of serving delectable Persian cuisine in the heart of the Souk, H2R Design identified a need for an update to the restaurant’s distinguished presence at this iconic hotspot. The firm began by studying the colour palettes of Persian design, including traditional art, music, language, tastes and flavours to delve deeper into the cultural context and bring it forward to the modern world through the restaurant aesthetic.

“Balance was an important aspect in the design inspiration. The historic Persian culture and kitchen are full of rich symbols, flaring qualities and temerity while the space attracted cooler undertones,” said Hasan and Husain Roomi, co-founders of H2R Design.

The fabrics of the furniture are all Persian inspired colours and patterns, while Textured walls were developed to embody a natural feel throughout the space. neutral tones were also maintained to allow the colours of the feature tiles, fabrics of the furniture and artwork to pop out.

A luxurious bar top was built using blue marble to accentuate the turquoise and blues of Persian design. Though H2R Design faced a challenge in sourcing the veiny blue tile for the countertop, after a thorough search the practice was able to find this richly coloured stone, meant to emulate Persian seas.

The floors of the larger space are carpeted with beige and brown porcelain tiles sourced locally, maintaining the cohesive neutral earthy vibe throughout, and allowing colours from other elements to be highlighted.

“Art was another focal point for us and the client, in the redesign of Anar.  In addition to the framed wall art pieces, we created symbolic mint stencils across the exterior walls tying in the both dimensions of the restaurant collectively into one,” Hasan Room, co-founder of H2R Design said.

“The client also commissioned an Iranian artist who painted lively murals to enrich the space with splashes of colour and whimsy. Creating a canvas for the art, we used travertine on the walls to keep it quite earthy and to allow for the colours to pop out playfully.”

Other key features of the interiors redesign include antique smoky mirrors with a mesh of brass, developed by the contractor and inspired by the traditional wooden archways added by H2R Design.

To cater to the entertainment factor of Anar, where DJ’s and bands are brought in to create a lively experience, flexible and movable furniture pieces were installed for easy accessibility.

“We weaved opposite sides of the spectrums harmoniously with subtle nods to the conventional styles while making it more relevant for this century,” the H2R founders added.