Responding to Context

Our point of departure for the design was a Grade II listed wall – originally part of an earlier military asylum on the site but which stood slightly incongruously at the edge of the square. The new building’s spiralling form is defined by a thin off-white concrete wall that curls upwards from the square, conceptually offering a contemporary continuation of the historic wall. 

While the main restaurant space can be seen as a classically-informed colonnade, its form and sense of movement give the restaurant an unmistakably contemporary character.

New Public Realm

At the outermost layer of the building’s spiral, an open staircase leads to a new roof garden above the restaurant. Open freely to the public and accessed independently from the space below, this garden is a meaningful contribution to the neighbourhood where people can sit or spend time among the canopies of surrounding trees, raised from the bustle of the busy square and road below. The roof is finished in wood, while large steel planters follow the spiralling shape of the building to introduce luscious planting, promoting biodiversity and enhancing the environment. 

Raw Materials

Inside, the concrete ribbon culminates in a service core and servery at the heart of the restaurant. The stone patterning revealed in the polished edges of the structural arches can also be seen in the black terrazzo flooring. Stone finishes are complemented by the metal wall panelling and the craftsmanship found in the acoustic ceiling. Ashwood slats are arranged to celebrate the building’s spiral form, adding a sense of movement to the space. Fabric curtains temper bright light from the large glass windows.  

Downstairs, the basement level contains a private dining space, the restaurant kitchen, WCs, and plants – including the trenches for the glazing mechanism where its large steel counterweights are housed.