Afroditi Krassa | Oriel

in Interiors by editor — 1:55 pm | March 12, 20121 comment

The Oriel on Sloane Square has been one of London’s most loved brasseries for almost a quarter of a century. The Tragus Group approached the studio with a simple brief: to relaunch this iconic restaurant. Inspired by the location of its first site at Heathow airport, Afroditi created a concept celebrating the 1930s Art Deco movement, a period in history when traveling was a beautifully luxury.

The team visited some of Europe’s grandest cafés, took pictures, sampled the food, soaked up the atmosphere. Then, the real work begun. Afroditi painstakingly analyzed the elements behind these charmed spaces: it was not just the surfaces, the materials, the textures and colours of these spaces that made them grand; it is the attention to detail, the slow evolution of the space and the love of craftsmanship.

The original Oriel logotype was given a new visual language and new supportive material were created based on 1930s patterns and geometric motifs. The interior design is a combination of clean and classic proportions in contrast to highly intricate, custom made elements. From the glossy geometric metalwork to the green veined marble tables; the herringbone patterned mosaic floor to the curved banquettes, each part has been built to last. A soft colour palette sets the tone for more dynamic, graphical features such as old station clocks, trunks, vintage travel photographs hanging of hook and train screens breaking up the spaces. The needs of the customer have been considered through special luggage spaces and charging up stations.

Oriel is located in Heathrow T3 and serves a selection of classic French food with a modern twist. “Oriel”, by the way, is a type of Franch bay window, hence the large windows overtaking most walls.