Robert M. Luckey 
From indigenous craftsmanship to subtle traditional aesthetics, these recent interiors show the transporting nature of incorporating different cultures into spaces.
Casa Dani, by the Rockwell band
Located in a 17-story office building and serving local employees and neighbors is the new Casa Dani restaurant by Spanish star chef Dani Garcia. It is part of a larger food market in New York’s West Manhattan.
Rockwell Group developed the space, saying the restaurant was designed as a “gradual journey” that leads from a series of smaller, more intimate spaces to the restaurant’s window – a large, double-height sunken dining room. Garcia’s homeland has always been a creative benchmark, according to the studio.
As diners enter, the space is compressed and cramped – a wavy textured ceiling has been paired with parquet flooring in an effort to evoke a traditional Spanish villa, and walls filled with plants and olive oils enhance the ambiance. idea. This final hidden dining room showcases a palette of Mediterranean colors and textures, filled with light woods, warm clay plaster, terracotta tiles and marble. It’s a nod to the open-air Spanish courts.
One of the stars of the show is the lighting. Inside the main dining room, RBW’s Mori pendant lights hang above family-style round tables. Cool-toned light contrasts with the surrounding warm palette, creating a lantern effect throughout.
SushiSamba Dubai, by ICRAVE
SushiSamba’s latest outpost in Dubai is located at 51st floor of the Palm Tower, making it the tallest restaurant on Palm Island. Designed by ICRAVE, the Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fusion restaurant is billed as a “destination in the clouds”.
In keeping with the fusion cuisine on offer, the 12,000 square foot space has allusions to all three countries. Traditional Japanese and Brazilian weaving techniques inform the expansive 3D-printed ceiling installation, which frames the entire restaurant. This is balanced with warm lighting and greenery.
At the center of the space is a large, theater-style open kitchen and sushi bar. There is also a 134-seat multi-level dining room equipped with orange banquettes and a 14-seat private dining room.
Much of the design has been implemented with the aim of showcasing the landscape beyond the huge glass windows surrounding the restaurant. The orange trees, which grow around the ceiling canopies, for example, aim to create a “surreal and dreamlike atmosphere against the pristine panoramic horizon”, explains the studio.
Isola by San Carlo, by Fettle
It may be located in St Christopher’s Square in London, but the design inspiration for Isola by San Carlo comes straight from Sicily. Developed by Fettle, the project was inspired by the family heritage of the San Carlo brand and the native flora of the island.
The space’s color scheme pays homage to Sicily’s most famous exports – with yellows representing lemons and greens representing pistachios. There are also a number of different natural materials and finishes, such as stone and Italian marble.
Some elements, like the scalloped paneling found on the walls and ceiling, are nods to what one might find in a large, traditional Sicilian home. Other such elements include rattan furniture and wraps and an abundance of greenery.
As diners move from the front of the restaurant into the main dining room, the color palette changes from yellows and greens to a warm light pink, with walls decorated with eclectic framed artwork , various table finishes and different styles of lamp and other accessories. The effect is comfortably warm, with a “sense of opulence”.
Palace of Orazio, by Collidanielarchitetto
With its location in Rome’s Prati district, it’s no surprise that the design of Palazzo Orazio draws inspiration from the city and its history. Collidanielarchitetto says the city at night was the main reference for the project, as well as the neoclassical building itself.
Nor is that the case with the Ozio restaurant on the top floor, which has large windows to show off the city skyline uninterrupted. With this as the focal point of the space, the accompanying features were chosen to complement the landscape. Woven rope sofas and metal armchairs contrast, while dark marble finishes evoke a sense of history.
Elsewhere in the hotel, a traditional Italian courtyard has been modernized to provide respite from the bustle of the city. It has bright orange tables and seats, which stand out among the greenery and the natural stone floor.
The furniture found throughout the building is eclectic in order to appeal to the large clientele of the hotel. Much is bespoke for the Orazio, including desks and bedside tables, sofas, and small and large lamps.
The Maybourne bar, by André Fu Studio
The first hotel project carried out by André Fu Studio in the United States, the Maybourne Bar is located within The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles. Fu calls the space “an elegant bar setting.”
Fu says his inspiration for the design of the bar was the unification of different cultures – as such, for Maybourne Bar he sought to bring together Art Deco-style geometric patterns with vibrant California colors. Tall bar stools pop in bright blue and orange, against monochromatic Art Deco elements like black-and-white wall panels and photographs.
Aiming to create a “hidden gem”, the bar itself is the focal point of the space. It was carved from solid Turkish silver onyx and accented with polished nickel. It’s accented by hidden lighting, which he says gives the bar “an alluring glow and a sense of glamour.”
The theme of jewels and precious metals continues into the room thanks to Fu’s intricate mosaic flooring, comprised of white terrazzo and silver Emperador marble. Meanwhile, bespoke furniture is another nod to the Art Deco movement.
What has been your favorite recent interior project? Let us know in the comments below…
