The challenge of this project was to transform a tired, worn-down restaurant into a sophisticated and contemporary dining experience, linking it with the history and culture of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The design strategy here enhances the space, both inside and outside, and creatively emphasizes these ambitions. The burnished tiled exterior was replaced with a white limestone veneer, punctuated with a series of French doors that open the interior to the sidewalk cafe.
The new interior offers a subtle color palette of charcoal gray and white sand, with accents of dark browns and gold. The colors from the outside migrate to the interiors; notable is the fabric-wrapped ceiling panels, the metal work, and the stone flooring. The bar was completely updated and now features a shimmering gold and white mosaic tile backsplash, with a dropped soffit veneered in walnut wood panels. These colors link the space back to historical Babylon.