By Rita Roy
Choudhury
Photography:
Ewout Huibers; courtesy the architect
Read Time: 2 mins
 |
| . |
Dining out has always been a special experience; even more so, when
paired with a shopping experience at the luxurious Bijenkorf Utrecht in
Amsterdam…
Designed by the reputed i29 interior architects and housed in Bijenkorf,
also known as BeeHive, ‘the kitchen’ is a bright and airy food-court a la restaurant that sits on the
uppermost floor of the store. Designed to top off an energetic day of
luxe shopping, this eatery has an ambience that entices people to take a
welcome break from the often exhausting demands of shopping.
 |
| . |
Islands of mini kitchens surrounded by transparent glass walls bring the
cooking experience home to shoppers. Since the kitchens cook up foods from
different parts of the world, customers can walk up and watch the theatrics
of live-cooking. Cooking is the star here and the food is always on view.
 |
| . |
 |
| . |
The distinctive hexagonal honeycomb logo of the department store
continues to be a dominant motif in the restaurant. Incidentally, the geometric
black and white pattern is a unifying theme across the restaurant floors and
the food counter fronts rendering a playful, energetic feel to the space.
Its no-fuss vibe creates an unobtrusive envelope, whilst tying the aesthetics
in a blend of natural phenomena sans any additional pieces of art or other
evocative objects of desire.
 |
| . |
 |
| . |
As if to shout out above the heavy traffic that typically passes through
the restaurant, clear markings guide hurrying shoppers to the right food
counters. The open design allows for an informal setup, flexible for either a
cozy meal in the city or a working group lunch meet.
 |
| . |
This restaurant rewards us with many surprising elements, one
such being the living green wall at its centre. The lush green foliage is
reflected in the use of natural materials like wood seating, and complementary
upholstery; with warm tones of nature repeated in a recurring theme across
the green glass wall dividers all across the restaurant. As if in a green oasis in an urban desert,
this refreshing restaurant is a welcome addition to the cityscape of
Amsterdam.
 |
| . |
Fact File:
Client: De
Bijenkorf
Design: i29 interior architects
Materials: Oak wood, metal frames, tiles, ceramics,
glass, fabrics
Furniture manufacturer: Stooff
No comments :
Post a Comment