approach to design.
I wantedtobring a Nordic senseofmaterialityandtexturetoAquavit’sredesign,withaspecialattentiontothelayering of space and light.
How didyou wantguests to feel?
We wanted thespace to envelopguestswithwarmglowingroomsthatwouldbeincontrasttothecoolgraniteplazajust outside.Themain diningroomwantedtofeelmoreactive,sotoenlivenit,weopenedthekitchenwithaglasswall,inabrass framework, so guests, andevenpedestriansoutside,couldwitnessthestagesofpreparationofthe neSwedish cuisine.This metal frameworkisunevenlyspacedcreatingathreedimensional“weave”thatframestheviews,yetchangesasonewalksby or sees sta in layers of motion.
The bar is more energeticand casualthantheintimatemaindiningroom.Wefacedthechallengeofcreatingadramaticbut comfortabledining space in thisroomthathasa20-footundulatingwoodceiling,which Spacesmith addedinthe previous renovation. The soaring heightfeelsloweredandwarmedbywoodpanelsthatsetalowerdatum.Weinterspersedthese varyingsized panelswith antiquemirrorglassbetweentheback-litwoodpanelstogivealayeredrhythmandnatural syncopation. Glowinglight andtwinklingnewbarpendantshelpmakethespacefeelinvitinginsidethedramaticvolume.The bar area now has a small platesmenutomatchthismoreinformalapproachaswell.
Whatare somekey materials/motifsandwhy?
The design palette forAquavit isearthywithacombinationofnaturalmaterialsandtexturesthatarebothrawandre ned.This blend of elementscreates a dynamicandsensualappealthatisparticularlyScandinavian.
A new, wide-planked, Danish rawoak oorwith butter yjoinery,runsthroughout therestaurantandisbalancedbyamore polished warm wood paneling,ando setwith aglintof brassdetails.AScandinavianblueisusedforbanquettes, complementingthe warm tonesofthewallsandwoodpanelinginthebaranddiningroom.Someofthenewfurniturewas built bya ScandinaviancraftsmaninWashingtonstate,whohasbeenmakingpiecesfortherestaurantovertheyears.
Pops of whiteandblue tile enliventhekitchenwalls.Thekitchen’scompliantceilingandbrightlightingarevisually lteredand warmedbythebrassframes andseededglassatthetopofthenewkitchenwall.
Howdoes
thisdesign stand outinMidtown’sculinarylandscape?
Aquavit is still a recognizable andafamiliardiningexperienceandbutfeelsabitmoreofthemoment. Aquavitis nota nostalgic, theatrical venue pretendingtobeanoldwarehouseorbistro.Aquavit’snewdesign,muchlikethefoodtheyserve,is about authenticingredients, realmaterials,andsimpleelegantcompositionswhichallowthedinersandtheexquisitedishesto be the focus of theexperience.
