African Design Magazine November 2016 | Page 42

African project First Base – South Africa W ith a basic brief to include the principles of honesty, openness and creativity – appealing to the millennial diner – Inhouse Director, Aidan Hart and Senior Designer, Jenine Bruce conceptualised all aspects of the beautiful space. A fast casual restaurant promises a healthier take on fast food, with fewer processed ingredients and more fresh produce. First Base offers the freshest ingredients for their pizzas and salads, along with healthier options like cauliflower bases and a selection of fresh juices. To create a fresh look to match, Inhouse started with a clean “desert” colour palette of muted hues, playfully laid out to create an interesting interior scheme that translates well both by day and night. First Base places a strong focus on simplicity. The open plan layout reflects the brand’s premise of being open about what goes on in the kitchen - allowing the customer to be part of the process. Communal dining, with long solid oak tables, makes up most of the dining area, with additional tables and seating along a blue slatted wall illuminated by custom lighting. The desert colour palette is reflected in the shade of the leather used for the seating and the grey of the planters on the tables. Important considerations for the designers were the flow of the self-service eatery and creating a synergy within the space. To form an inviting entrance to the restaurant, they chose to construct a large timber box with directional lighting – creating a bold statement as diners walk in. The warm oak is also reflected in a number of the counters which are topped by silver-grey marble.