When WFC invited us to manufacture over eighty-three metres of bespoke banquette seating for the new restaurant of one of the world’s most acclaimed chefs, we jumped at the opportunity. Based at the iconic One Aldwych Hotel, Eneko at One Aldwych is the latest restaurant for world-renowned Basque chef Eneko Atxa.
The stylish new restaurant is the conception of leading designers Casson Mann. Their distinct interior design which brings together Eneko Atxa’s Basque heritage and London’s culture, required specialist banquette seating for the main restaurant area in the cellar, along with the floating mezzanine area.
The original steel frame of the Edwardian building has been exposed by Casson Mann and they have “threaded” through the columns around the perimeter of the space, a sculptural steel ‘ribbon’ that incorporates the banquette seating.
Our expertise for creating bespoke seating was fully utilised to create the eight individual ‘floating’ banquettes for the basement area of the restaurant. Casson Mann requested the seats to be upholstered in a montage of different reds in both leathers and fabrics. These were inspired by the changing colour of red chilli peppers as they dry, as seen in Eneko Atxa’s kitchen at Azurmendi, Bilbao. The red banquettes stand on hidden steel supports which create a floating effect.
Alongside the perimeter seats, a large cantilevered banquette and smaller curved banquette were required to frame the island seating area. These have both been upholstered in soft stone Alma leather with button details and stand on stained timber legs.
Above the main restaurant area, the mezzanine required another large curved cantilevered banquette also upholstered in stone coloured leather and standing on hidden feet.
The finished range of our banquette seating truly fulfils the design brief and adds to the exciting interiors that Casson Mann has created. Due to fully open in September, the restaurant is set to be another must go destination for both food lovers and design hunters from around the world.
Photographs kindly provided by Casson Mann.
