Bavel
Middle Eastern restaurants have long suffered from cliché in design aesthetics such as having a very dark, heavily patterned and often intimidating environments. The design for Bavel set out to challenge those conventions. The restaurant design embraces the influence of the regions from which the cuisine is derived (the southern Mediterranean), interpreting those ideas through the lens of its Arts District location. The worn, rather innocuous brick warehouse which houses the space, served as a wonderfully textured canvas for the restaurant to evolve from.
PROJECT SUMMARYLOCATIONLos Angeles, CA
YEAR2018
CLIENTOri Menashe & Genevieve Gergis
SIZE7,200 sq. ft. interior
“In a world of excess and heaviness, this light-filled industrial space adorned with ivy is refreshing. This is handsome and well-done.”
Awards JuryContract Magazine
Natural light served as the critical ingredient employed to create a bright and inviting atmosphere. The center piece of the design is an extensive raceway of planters which hang just below the massive skylight openings, with greenery spilling over and filling the voluminous ceiling area.
The primary base color in the space is white with pops of color found in tile, plaster and furnishings that are drawn from the Coastal Mediterranean-vibrant turquoise, saffron and turmeric, and patterns evoking a Moorish feel are found throughout.
Seating diversity is plentiful, with a focus on comfort so diners can relax and enjoy, whether inside or on the patio. Modern and traditional styles blend to find the perfect note and finishing touch to the space.
