4 minute read
Zaytinya's Elegant Statement
BY VILMA BARR
Photo Credit: Jason Varney
Lighting Sculpts a Mediterranean-Inspired Interior
Despite its high-traffic location on the ground floor of New York’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel at the corner of 28th Street and Broadway, Zaytinya’s vibrant interior retains a feeling of elegance and intimacy. Housed within a 50-floor tower designed by Rafael Viñoly, the all-day restaurant and bar occupies a 3,000-sq-ft corner wedge, with glass frontage on two sides.
In keeping with the menu created by chef and honored humanitarian José Andrés, patrons can select from mezze-style dishes influenced by Turkish, Greek, Lebanese and Italian cuisines. “Zaytinya” is derived from the Turkish reference to olive oil. A specialty is an array of shareable small plates of authentic selections influenced by Chef Andrés’ extensive international travels. New York is the second location for Zaytinya, which originally opened in Washington D.C. in 2002.
Isometrix Lighting & Design served as lighting design consultants for the Manhattan Zaytinya site.
The restaurant’s interior by design studio Rockwell Group evokes the environmental influences of the Mediterranean coast. This Eastern Mediterranean flavor is translated across the light and neutral space that benefits from high ceilings and exposed wood ceiling beams against a neutral palette injected with accents of blue.
Rockwell Group’s design for the 140seat bar and restaurant teams white oak woods with bronze metals, creating a strong contrast against bright blue accents, pattern detailing, and specially commissioned artwork. Architectural finishes continue the theme of a neutral base to give added dimension to elements of texture and pattern found in the upholstered banquettes and at the bar, incorporating the cyan blue color that characterizes the regional waters of the Aegean Sea.
Chevron-patterned flooring is inset with blue tiles. Layers of sheer blue ombré curtain provide light privacy and line the vast floor-to-ceiling street-facing windows. The adjacent wall contains large arched antique bronze mirrors and booth seating, which compliments the warm leather detailing on the credenzas. Arched openings and tambour walls introduce elements of classic Greek and Roman architecture.
ART OVERHEAD
Exposed wood ceiling beams are interspersed with acoustic linen-texture panels that correspond to the patterns of the floor bands.
The line drawings created by Rockwell Group’s Graphics studio are an interpretation of Mediterranean culture, its harvests and art expressed over the ages. Their illustrative sketches were translated into original art hand-painted on the fixture’s linen shades by The Alpha Workshops. Founded in 1995 in New York, The Alpha Workshops is the nation’s first nonprofit organization to provide decorative arts education and employment to adults with disabilities.
THE BAR AREA DESIGN
Zaytinya’s bar contrasts to the soft contours and hand-applied drawings of the overhead lighting fixtures with a glistening wall of blue multi-tone circular shape mirrors. Each mirror is attached to a frame that curves up towards the ceiling. Backlighting adds drama to the overall space, becoming the focal point of the restaurant.
The wall’s geometric assemblage of the illuminated circular mirrors creates a sculptural effect that provides a distinctive visual statement that balances the architectural arches in other areas of the restaurant. Inspiration, according to the designers, was adapted from image of the Evil Eye “Mati,” the magical and protective talisman.
Materials that comprise the bar counter include blue lavastone and a chiselled stone bar die.
Zaytinya is open daily, serving breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. It is part of the Think Food Group founded by Chef Andrés and partner Bob Wilder that operates three dozen dining facilities in the U.S. and the Bahamas.
