Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە by John Whelan - GSL

Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە by John Whelan - GSL is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Xelata A' Design Award a Zîvîn in Dîzayna Mêvandarî, Bêhnvedanê, Rêwîtî û Tûrîzmê Competition Category.

ZîvMêvandarî· 2021

Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە

by John Whelan - GSL

Client: The Guild of Saint Luke

Xelata A' Design Award a Zîvîn Winner in Mêvandarî Category

50,988

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #123843

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە

Book Text: مەزۆن فرانسوا چێشتخانەیەکە بە ڕووبەری ٥٠٠ مەتر چوارگۆشە، لەناو قاڵبێکی کۆنکریتی ڕووتدا دروستکراوە. سەقفی خانەخانە لە کەرەستەیەکی دەنگگیری دروستکراوە کە بە ڕەنگی سیمانی ساختە بۆیاغ کراوە بۆ گونجاندن لەگەڵ زەمینە کۆنکریتییە سافکراوەکە. کورسییە درێژە خواروکراوەکانی داری گوێز کە سەرووەکانیان لە شووشەی نهێنیپارێزن، بە کەتانی کرێمی داپۆشراون، هەروەها پەردەی کەتانی کرێمی لە زەمینەوە بۆ سەقف بەرامبەری گچی تیراکۆتا و کەوانە ئاوێنەکان دەبنەوە. دارتاشییەکە لە داری گوێز و ماهۆگانییە، لەگەڵ کارە فەلزییەکانی برنجی و نیکلی کۆنکراو. نێوەندی گوزەرگای دورگەیی ناوەندی خاڵی سەرنجڕاکێشی ژوورەکە پێکدەهێنێت و چێشتخانەکە بە بۆشایی نانخواردنەوە دەبەستێتەوە.

The Recognition

About the Xelata A' Design Award a Zîvîn

Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە xelatgirê Xelata A' Design Award a Zîvîn e, nasîneke bi awayekî awarte bi prestîj ku ji sêwiranên di asta herî bilind de, xweşik û bibandor re tê dayîn. Xelatgirên Zîvînê karên pir birûsk û pir afirîner in, yên ku pisporiya hêja, jêhatîbûn û zîrekiya sêwiranerên xwe nîşan didin. Tê hêvîkirin ku Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە karekî mînak, pir pîşekar û bi kûrahî nûjen be. Ev sêwirana bi Zîvînê serketî vedîtineke berbiçav û hatiye sitayişkirin e ku ji bo fireh kirina sînorên huner, zanist, sêwiran û teknolojiyê tevkarî dike. Maison Francois Primary Function: چێشتخانە afirandinek e ku gelek kes çavê xwe lê dikin, daxwazan şiyar dike, hestên erênî tîne û heyirînê çêdike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Initially, the concrete shell was taken as the starting point, creating a Brutalist ceiling coffering and laying down a polished concrete floor. Once the framework was established, ensuing elements were designed to create that elusive warmth and intimacy. Curved walnut banquettes with privacy glass uppers are upholstered in a resistant cream linen that are tactile and inviting. They correspond with floor-to-ceiling cream linen curtains that offset the grandeur of the imposing terracotta stucco and mirror arches.
Dimensions & Packaging: 500 square metres floor space
Tags: Restaurant, Brasserie, London
Production Technology: The coffered ceiling was realised in phonic material and painted in faux-cement to match the polished concrete floor. Joinery is in walnut and mahogany, with patinated brass and nickel metalwork. Upholstery and drapery is in cream linen.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was the space that was inherited from the landlord. A far cry from the warm and welcoming environment desired by the client, it was a cavernous concrete shell with no discernible features of interest. The façade offered little more by way of inspiration, being part of a somewhat generic new build. It was therefore necessary to think carefully about how the large volume could be animated, and how to create visibility from the street.
Research: Much of the research that went into this project had been conducted over several years, working on restoring and re-designing historic brasseries in France. Everything that was learned by the studio during this period was applied to the project, but this knowledge was infused with more contemporary reference points such as Postmodernism and Brutalism in order to evolve the genre.
Inspiration: Rather than taking the more tried and tested route of looking to the Art Deco period for inspiration, the design looked at successful residential conversions of Brutalist spaces, such as Ricardo Bofill’s, La Fabrica. What interested the team was how the designers managed to create a sense of intimacy and warmth despite their imposing concrete surrounds. The solution was to find the right dosage of these ideas, within a more traditional brasserie framework.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2019 and opened in September 2020
Operation Flow: Bringing the kitchen into direct conversation with the room was key to creating a vibrant atmosphere, and so the central island pass became the focal point of the room. It sits underneath a monumental Rado inspired clock flanked by a lambs-tongue mahogany and bevelled mirror canopy that recalls the windows of the Ismaili Centre. Metals range from patinated nickel to burnished brass, all heavy on texture and designed to warm up the space.
Team Members: Designer: John Whelan for The Guild of Saint Luke
Image Credits: Photography by Oskar Proctor