Archinect
De Matos Ryan

De Matos Ryan

London, GB

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Christopher’s

Christopher’s, a stalwart of the Covent Garden dining scene, has reopened with an opulent new interior designed in close collaboration with Christopher’s owners. Eschewing the current climate of austerity and abstinence the sumptuous new interiors hark back to a bygone era of glamour and revelry, celebrating the ornate and exceptional character of the existing building and the atmosphere of heady decadence embodied in the very fabric of the place.

Originally opened in 1991, Christopher’s has become a much-loved institution amongst London’s media crowd. It occupies a Grade II listed building in a prominent location opposite the Lyceum in the heart of London’s Theatreland.

The Martini Bar is conceived as a theatrical and atmospheric drinking parlour, with a palette of materials expressing the rich patina and alchemy of cocktail mixology. Features include a 6.6 m onyx sharing table which offers at the bar drinking and upholstered banquettes tucked under a canopy of dark sumptuous teal buttoned velvet, which offer a more intimate experience. The main focal point of the room is a gold mirrored and brass clad bar. Bottles are displayed against a faceted smoked gold mirror backdrop cut with the repeat abstracted motif of a martini glass which is animated by a dynamic installation of suspended lights.

The dining room is a much brighter space with expansive windows overlooking London’s Theatreland. The two-tone grey panelled walls are framed by a theatrically lit silver gilded ceiling cornice and accented by flashes of warm gold velvet in the predominantly grey leather upholstery. The furniture is bespoke and includes individual soft back dark wood chairs and booth seating, carefully arranged to create intimacy within the larger dining space and maximise magnificent views across Waterloo Bridge from the smaller dining space. The room is lit by slender black metal wall and ceiling lights designed by Serge Mouille.

The Club Room and bar in the basement shares the design language of the main spaces, incorporating mirror lined walls and a brass clad bar so that the spaces are distinct yet unified. The entrance hall sets the tone with its charcoal grey walls, restored marble floor and domed ceiling highlighted with warm silver ornament.

 
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Status: Built
Location: London, GB
Additional Credits: LocationLondon
StatusComplete
Year Completed2013
PhotographyHufton+Crow
Awards:
Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2014, Winner
World Architecture Festival/INSIDE 2014, Shortlist
Society of British Interior Design International Design Awards 2013, Shortlist
FX Awards 2013, Shortlist
WIN Awards 2013, Winner