Best Design Studio: Small
AZBcreative
The Cumberland Manly
Interior Design - Hospitality - Eat & Drink | Creator: AZBcreative | Commissioner: MJC Group
The Cumberland is an underground Pre-Temperance inspired drinking den.
Hidden behind vintage icebox doors is a beautiful, sophisticated basement bar. Patrons enter through the rear of the upstairs deli and descend down a dimly lit stone clad spiral staircase which opens up into a custom designed wine vault, reminiscent of an old English cellar, which is filled with period details and is a visual feast.
Hand crafted joinery, spiral stone lined staircase, custom-made dumbwaiter, hand sewn butter leather curved banquettes, curated vintage furniture – it is the minute details that reveal the narrative.
The interior is completely transformative and takes patrons on a journey through the story it tells. The narrative and the detail are a profound partner to the drink and dining offering.
Glass Island
Interior Design - Hospitality - Casual | Creator: AZBcreative | Commissioner: Glass Island Sydney
Glass Island is newest party boat to pull up in Sydney and our mission was to design and reimagine an existing glass vessel into the most iconic hospitality location afloat on Sydney Harbour.
Made up of 3 levels, totally unique to themselves, and inspired by AZB’s travels around the globe. We created a visually stunning environment which embraces the needs of the guests.
The top deck is inspired by travels to iconic Mediterranean beach clubs and is a lush oasis with a palette of terracotta and white, with custom seating and super-deep lounges complete with an uninterrupted panoramic view of the magnificent Sydney Harbour.
The middle deck is a manifestation of Miami pool clubs and beach front hotel lobbies; a custom mint tiled bar features with multiple lounges on a raw timber deck surrounded completely by glass. It is as if the guests are literally dancing on the water!
The lower deck is a chilled champagne lounge where guests can kick back with unique cocktails.
There is absolutely nothing like Glass Island in Australia.
The Captain Paddington
Interior Design - Hospitality - Casual | Creator: AZBcreative | Commissioner: The Captain Paddinton
The Captain Cook Hotel has stood on the corner of Flinders Street in Paddington for over 100 years and was well and truly due for a facelift.
AZBcreative were brought in to design its new incarnation – The Captain.
With AZBcreative’s love of historic references and reimagining and converging different design moments in time, The Captain is rich with detail. Imagine a degraded dining hall in Buenos Aires or a classic 1920’s country pub with walls deteriorating.
From paint colours referencing early 20th Century interiors to plaster pigment walls, custom Australian outback wallpaper to custom terracotta pottery. The palette is putty, dirty ocean blue and pumice and applied across all interior elements, working together to create a multi-layered and detailed interior.
Discovering original elements in the venue added to the whole interior like exposing the bar and discovering original tiles on the bar fascia. AZB introduced arched thresholds to soften walls and ceilings and to create a sense of discovery into each area of the venue.
Our collaboration with artists, makers, and small run factories helped create an interior narrative that has soul and authenticity.
Shutters Coogee Beach
Interior Design - Hospitality - Eat & Drink | Creator: AZBcreative | Commissioner: Salter Brother
Shutters comprises of a lobby bar, main dining room with open kitchen and a shuttered patio opening to Coogee Beach. AZBcreative undertook to design these as three distinct enclaves.
The lobby bar annexed to the foyer where we designed and produced a totally hand created concrete render bar that looks as if it was made out of timber but is completely hand carved. On top of this we laid incredible honed terrazzo. We then designed a 60-seat lobby bar area with 2 substantial custom banquette units in cut marble and velvet facing the majestic panorama of Coogee Beach.
The main dining room and large open kitchen was designed to contain guests within one luxurious space. With detailed central dining banquette and lush plantings in the centre, surrounded by our custom dining chairs in rattan and buffed leather and celadon green marble tables. We wanted to reduce the overall tonality of all furniture and the upholstery materials so that the colour balance of the space reflected the scenery outside of the large open shuttered windows. This palette was more hues that solid colours.
The final space is the shuttered patio opening up to the majestic view of the Coogee foreshore. We created a 6 metre high-glassed atrium and designed a floating star cut screen to create dappled light onto the dining area. We used gorgeous highly veined marble throughout the venue in hues that are evocative of ocean surf and desaturation the interior so that it looks almost botanical.
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