Project Name: “The Kitchen” All Day Dining Restaurant

Location: Kempinski Hotel Muscat in Al Mouj Muscat

Date Completed: May 2018

Interior Designer: HBA Dubai

Hotel Group: Kempinksi

Construction Company: Carillion

HBA were tasked with designing a restaurant that offers a wide culinary range restaurant with a unique a contemporary interior inspired by the topography of Mountainous Muscat. The client and Kempinksi were seeking an All-Day Dining restaurant concept driven by a journey through “the Boulevard of Delights”. A requirement for revenue was 230 indoor seating capacity and 150 outdoor seating capacity. The restaurant is truly a unique concept to the classical style of the Kempinksi All Day Dining restaurant interiors.

This restaurant looks and feels like a specialty destination Food & Beverage outlet. The spatial planning and zoning were an integral part of the journey within the Boulevard, a journey of discovery for the guest right from the arrival experience as they meander through a deconstructed path that will direct, guide and allow them to explore and discover the various cooking experiences.  The buffet units are designed to be flexible and adaptable, therefore during the non-breakfast time they are used as display or dining tables.  Another example is the Italian section that can be transformed into the “Chef’s Kitchen”, offering counter seating and potential for a cooking class. An adjoined café was also designed to become the spill-over during breakfast, and later transforms into a moody café, here the Owners and Kempinksi allowed room for play for a more interactive concept with an interior look and feel inspired by the typography of beautiful and Mountainous Muscat.

One of the main features in the design is the way the floor, counters, columns and ceiling are all integrated onto one another. The way the ceiling morphs onto the columns and then facets onto the counters, and fragments onto a deconstructed floor. HBA found this one of the most challenging aspects during the coordination phase: This unique ceiling design intent was angular, with 3-dimensional faceting.  They had to consider all the MEP components, ventilation and stretch ceiling lighting.  Each angle had to be studied and positioned in a way that it did not obstruct any of MEP equipment and ductwork and ultimately the vision worked.

The floor is made of 3 marbles, cut into linear strips and fixed in-situ, this was a very precise application and dry lay that required marble specialists.  All local fitout companies and artisans were involved with HBA sourcing 80% of the stone used from local Omani mined quarries.

The overall contemporary design is derived from the core roots set in Oman, a faceted interpretation of the regional landscapes, textures & palette.  Throughout the faceted path, the guests will discover the various staging counters angular in form and topped with a travertine effect composite. Here one will find a mix of seating styles including stools, dining chairs, & banquette seating of which the fabric textures and tones rather than contrast, are complimentary, adding a visual layer adding to the exploration and discovery. “an earthy blend of Omani hues”.