Interiors

Visually dynamic

The sculpted cage ... aesthetic.

The venue of the region’s first BOA Steakhouse is pure eye candy

Abu Dhabi’s Eastern Mangroves Promenade now boasts the region’s first BOA Steakhouse, whose bold and colourful venue has been designed by an award-winning team of interior designers.

Overlooking the stunning Eastern Mangroves, the UAE emirate’s newest steakhouse, which officially opened in April, has been designed by Paul Bishop and the team at Bishop Design, an international award-winning interior design company based in Dubai, UAE.

It is the third branch globally of the US chain BOA Steakhouse – the first two being located on the beachside in Santa Monica and the hustling Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, both in the US – and the first in the Middle East.

The 648-sq-m venue at the Eastern Mangroves Promenade – the retail area located within the Eastern Mangroves development – comprises the main floor and outdoor terrace. Work on the project for the Tourism Development and Investment Company’s (TDIC) F&B Division started in April 2012 and was completed in January this year.

Wooden parquet ... used for flooring.

Wooden parquet ... used for flooring.

Commenting on the design features of the project, a spokesperson for Bishop Design says: “There are numerous design features that enhance and are integral to the space such as the candy-stripe bespoke lighting, the dynamic poured chrome sculptured cage that adorns the private dining booth as well as the printed backlit graphic panels, amongst others.

“The inspiration of the project was to create a visual dynamic space which is yet ultimately comfortable, inviting a synergy between the varying spatial zones that play an integral part of the venues operation.”

Elaborating on the design, the spokesperson continues: “Some of the elements that really accentuate the design aesthetics within are the juxtaposition of varying textures and surfaces that adorn both the horizontal and vertical planes, hot stone panels, bespoke lighting features through to the use of carefully selected graphic applications.”

The colour schemes within are centred on deep autumn tones – reds, browns and neutral tone palettes pop up with multi-coloured candy stripe layers – synonymous with the brand’s visual identity.

The flooring includes distressed wooden parquets in walnut finish with complementing wooden veneered panelling also in walnut finish.

The patio at the BOA Steakhouse ... outdoor dining.

The patio at the BOA Steakhouse ... outdoor dining.

The lighting includes custom-made floor-mounted multi-coloured acrylic with stainless steel fixtures as well as custom-made suspen ded lights in red acrylic sourced from Professional Acrylic; while wall coverings include wallpapers sourced from Vescom. The sculptured cage was formed with polished chrome metal finish for the private dining booth.

Bishop Design was founded in 2004 by the husband and wife team of Paul and Ellen Bishop. With over 22 international awards, 50 per cent of these earned in food and beverage projects, the Bishop Design brand has created some of the highly acclaimed and successful venues in the UAE including Koi Restaurant and Lounge in Abu Dhabi; and La Serre Bistro and Boulangerie, Caramel Restaurant and Lounge and the complete renovation of the Fairmont Dubai, all in Dubai.

TDIC, the developer of the project, was established in 2006 and is fully owned by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. It is a master developer of major tourism, cultural and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi. These include Saadiyat, a natural island that is a 10-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi featuring luxury resorts, championship beachfront golf courses, sophisticated residential communities, retail destinations and cultural institutions – designed by world-renowned Pritzker Prize-winning architects – such as Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

TDIC is also developing Desert Islands – a heritage-based tourism destination composed of eight islands – Sir Bani Yas Island, the historical Dalma Island and the previously unexplored Discovery Islands.