Regional fit-out service provider Havelock One has recently completed two major projects which showcase its ability to deliver turnkey projects across sectors and markets to the highest standards possible.

These include renovation of a Kuwaiti cinema, which is aimed at paying homage to the ‘Golden Age’ of the Arab cinema, and an interior fit-out of a restaurant in Bahrain, that tempts the palate while providing a cosy environment at the crossroads of nature and ethno-pluralism.

For the cinema project, Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) called upon Havelock One to set up the first and only boutique cinema concept in Kuwait. The name 1954 Film House harks back to the year that KNCC was established as the first cinema operator in the GCC.

The 1954 Film House ... paying homage to the ‘Golden Age’ of the Arab cinema.

Under this deal, Havelock One Interiors was tasked to renovate three theatres where the scope of work also covered the foyer area and the impressive front.

In design, nostalgia works to bring audiences to a sentimental and emotive state. There’s something about looking at images or touching and reliving a few moments from decades past that reconnects people to their roots, creating a sense of identity and a warm and powerful motivation to move forward without neglecting the past, says a senior Havelock official.

And the new retro-project, the 1954 Film House at Al Kout Mall in Kuwait  is reminiscent of exactly that, a ‘Back to the Future’ approach.

“We were more than thrilled having been awarded this opportunity to perform the interior fit-out of this unique commercial establishment in Kuwait,” remarks Imtiaz Mahadiwala, the director of operations in Kuwait at Havelock One Interiors.

“Our fit-out team installed vintage aesthetics and retro-inspired design elements to treat moviegoers, young and old, to a museum-like journey through the history of the motion-picture theatre in the region,” he adds.

The entrance features a vintage marquee signage, displaying movie titles in crisp, retro typography and a ticketing booth offering classic concierge service, complete with a menu of movies to watch.

Terrazzo tiles and golden brass panels adorn the foyer, where movie posters, tickets and other nostalgic memorabilia from decades past are on display.

Each of the three auditoria has a distinctive design, following lighting motifs in gold, red and blue and featuring luxury seats upholstered in the same colour spectrum.

 Havelock One also applied distinctive designs for each of the three auditoria, following lighting motifs in gold, red and blue and produced luxury seats upholstered in the same colour spectrum. It also installed Gustafs linear rib acoustic panels and Eomac fabric wallcovering for soundproofing.

“1954 Film House brings back the playful, experimental and exuberant spirit of this golden period in history at a time when the design industry of the region is thriving. We hope that this inspires a new generation of creative minds in the region,” Mahadiwala comments.

Recently, the cinema launched an in-house restaurant that offers a menu of local and international dishes to complete the experience, he adds.

Havelock One Interiors’ other new project, Clay, is the latest food and beverage (F&B) concept by Food Fund International (FFI) which opened in January in Adliya, a vibrant neighbourhood of Bahrain’s capital Manama.

Havelock One Interiors was responsible for creating this new Japanese-Peruvian hotspot, completing the turnkey fit-out and in-house manufacturing of the restaurant’s select pieces of furniture and design details.

Clay serves Nikkei cuisine, the popular name for the fusion of Japanese traditional recipes with Peruvian ingredients, currently enjoying global gastronomic fame.

Clay restaurant ... Havelock One’s expertise is quite visible on the intricate wood carvings and the tufted banquettes.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with FFI’s in-house design team whose restaurants boast interior designs and décor that enliven the senses and prepare the palate for the exquisite cuisine they serve,” remarks Jihad Raad, the division director, bespoke hospitality manufacturing and fit-out at Havelock One.

Covering 7,500 sq ft on the fifth floor of The Terminal building, Clay certainly lives up to similar brand qualities, he says. The restaurant has a warm and distinctively earthy colour scheme that offers the right setting for a relaxed evening.

Havelock One’s expertise is quite visible on the intricate wood carvings and the tufted banquettes that let guests to talk comfortably while dining, states Raad.

The craftsmanship of its glazier and metalworking teams can also be seen in the kitchen and bar countertops, and the doors and windows in textured and tinted glass, offering hypnotic views of the city.

A standout feature of the restaurant is a hand-painted ceramic mural depicting traditional Japanese art and a mesmerising ceiling art with hanging clay balls and paper lanterns at the bar area, Raad remarks.

Havelock One also installed waterproofing, a new steel structure, thermal insulation, sun-reflective solar coating, complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services, foot rail, antique mirrors and the aluminium façade.

Since 1998, Havelock One has established itself as a leading turnkey fit-out service provider in the GCC, specialising in interior contracting and the manufacturing of bespoke joinery, metal works and elaborate shop-fittings. It has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (UAE); Doha (Qatar); Kuwait; Manama (Bahrain); and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia); and a factory in Askar, Bahrain.

Havelock One supports its sophisticated client base with high-end services and products for hospitality, F&B, retail, commercial, government, entertainment and residential projects.