TAKE A SEAT
Q&A:
Robby Perkins, creative director of Daniel Reed Hospitality and designer of Artillery
What are your favorite design elements in the space and why? Artist Mary Hartman created a custom panel for the entrance that is incredible — a horse pulling a cart. It’s one of my favorite elements in the space. In general, because it is a smaller space, we could really do some impressive finishes and installations that might not make sense in a larger build out.
How does the space blend old and new? And to what extent was the design informed by the building’s history? Savannah College of Art and Design graduate Justin Gunther shared his historic preservation thesis on the history of the building, which inspired the design, including the name Artillery. I did a lot of my own research on the history of the building as well. For example, the building was an automotive showroom at one point. I used that to inspire the design for the chartreuse velvet banquettes (to resemble the upholstery found in vintage cars). Every element from the largest to the smallest detail has a story and reason behind it. The paneling and horse reins in the back hallway leading to the restrooms nod to the horse stalls that used to occupy the back of the building when the cavalry kept the horses that pulled the artillery there. 24
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Above: Artillery's ornate facade Right: Art by Mary Hartman near entrance
Was there a founding inspiration for the design? Any challenges along the way? I wanted to keep an even balance of historic and modern identity. I didn't want people to think it was a historic speakeasy that had been there for 200 years. I didn't want to create a super modern space inside a historic shell, either. Finding the middle ground was the challenge: juxtaposing the old and the new to highlight both. Photography by JEREMIAH HULL
