Bar & Leisure Focus - Questions and answers on interior design

Bar & Leisure’s Toby Maxwell talks to designers who are shaping engaging spaces and we assess some examples of projects that have harnessed unique creative ideas to stand out in a highly competitive hospitality sector.

Edited by Toby Maxwell

Stephen Quiddington, Director of Q&A Interior Design, explains in detail the importance of engaging with the client to achieve the best end result…

What is your personal background and what was the path that led you to work in architecture and hotel design?

I initially studied exhibition design for four years at ND and HND level and then went on to study interior design. When I left university my first job was in exhibition and event design before forming a design partnership in London with a university friend of mine. We undertook projects in events, exhibitions and interior design but at this stage I could say my passion was interiors and hospitality. I set up my own interior design business in 2006 and we now specialise in restaurant and cafe interiors.

Bespoke furniture in Kibou Cambridge’s Mirror Room; a Japanese cherry tree takes centre stage beneath the same room’s skylight; the Oak Room was clad in oak wall panels and picture lights that couldn’t be removed and were therefore incorporated into the design; Kibou as a brand is inspired by the nostalgic nightlife of Tokyo’s backstreets

What defines your studio’s approach to projects in this sector?

We are a small team of like-minded creatives who are able to work directly with the client and build a strong working relationship, which is essential to the success of any project. We positively encourage client involvement at all levels. We draw on many years of experience to extract the client’s vision and not dictate our own studio style. I believe this is fundamental and important to listen and understand the client’s loves, dislikes and dreams. We will add value throughout the process and ensure that we always exceed the client’s expectations.

Given the constant evolution of consumer tastes and trends, how do you ensure the longevity of the designs you create?

I think you have to keep evolving with trends, but you have to be very aware of when they become commonplace. It’s the same with fashion in that sense. Restaurants will always need a refresh every five years. You can’t stand still, otherwise the competition becomes more attractive. We try to specify design elements that have a timeless quality, whether it’s in lighting, furniture or certain wall coverings. This can balance the overall aesthetic with new trends.

What future for hotel design in the short and long term?

High streets will be key to the future of hospitality and will be a real positive opportunity. Online shopping has devastated the high street as we know it and created a void that can be filled by mixed-use activities alongside food and beverage. Retail will need to become much more closely linked to food and beverage as high rents and empty stores drive the consumer away from the high street.

Technology will also play a key role in how the customer interacts with the brand, from their social media marketing to how we order our food and then tell other consumers about it.

What recent project presented a particularly interesting or unusual design challenge?

We were commissioned to design the new Kibou Cambridge site after successfully designing their other Kibou restaurants in Cheltenham, Bristol and Solihull.

The Cambridge ceremony venue was a Grade II listed Georgian building on Jesus Lane. The space was divided into three main rooms: a main aisle with a grand Georgian staircase; a light-filled mirrored room; and an oak-panelled hall.

The renovation came with some constraints. For example, the Oak Room was clad entirely in oak panelling and wall lights from the Cambridge Pitt Club, which couldn’t be removed. We decided to celebrate this as a nod to Japan’s colonial past. We designed a glamorous dining experience with an eye-catching wisteria installation and a dynamic 6.3m wide digital animation display requiring three projectors.

The Kibou brand is inspired by the nostalgic nightlife of Tokyo’s backstreets, evoking the golden age of whisky, sake and fine sushi. The Oak Room offered fine dining and we used the street next to the sushi bar and open kitchen as a street stage adorned with neon lights and climbing Japanese maples. The more casual cocktail lounge and dining room were located next to it, allowing for less formal dining experiences, creating an intimacy but never separated from the communal atmosphere.

The Mirror Room, with colourful, reflective murals along each boundary wall, is a light-filled space that feels more like an orangery due to its multiple skylights and a central domed skylight. A Japanese cherry blossom tree takes centre stage beneath the skylight, furnished with a round banquette. The bespoke furniture is adorned with Japanese fabrics from the Iliv Orientalis range and Linwood Omega prints. www.qa-interiordesign.co.uk