H2R Design’s latest project echoes a serene ambience and positive vibes
H2R Design has revealed details of yet another of its design and branding projects completed in recent months, NETTE: a French Japanese restaurant located in MATCHA Club, Al Quoz’s newest boutique padel and movement club.
Indulging the interests of its cultural and trendy clientele, the venue blends seamlessly within the context of MATCHA, and has been inspired by the net, the court, and the game of padel, as well as the tranquil serenity of the destination, whilst also being functional as a dining space.
Hasan Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design said: “NETTE is in the heart of MATCHA Club, one of the most talked about new spaces and experiences in Dubai, and so the design really needed to match the beauty and ambience of the rest of the Club. We have not only focused on an aesthetically pleasing design, but we have also used the natural surroundings (the open space, the light, the greenery, yoga studios and views of the padel courts) to create a functional space that still works for the dining operation. NETTE is a fantastic example of how our design team have put the customer experience first, whilst also creating something beautiful.”
The space of NETTE itself evokes the tranquil ambience of the brand perfectly. A rectangular design with floor to ceiling windows, it has an abundance of natural light that is blended beautifully with hues of terracotta, as well as green, grey and natural beige tones, skilfully kept as minimalist as possible to let the materials and furnishings set the scene.
To complement MATCHA Club’s distinct geometric style of artistic furniture and lush landscaping, habitual materials have been used as much as possible to contrast the industrial feel of the surrounding area, resulting in an urban sanctuary in the heart of the Club.
Stunning marble has been used throughout the entire space but most notably on the coffee bar, the custom-made communal table that holds court in the centre of the interior space, and the outdoor planters in the courtyard, each handcrafted with colours such as Travertino Red with accents of Gaya and Indian green. These details and accents seamlessly tie the overlook look and feel together, offering a depth of intricacy to match all tables, shelves, counter and waiter stations.
Paying close attention to every element, the restaurant also comprises tasteful greenery and citrus trees, essentially bringing the outdoors in to enhance the overall feel of nature and tranquillity. The space is also home to impressive touches of wood, which is accompanied by accents of aged effect copper and black details, providing an extra layer of warmth and cosiness.
Building on the relaxed narrative, the outdoor area is situated under a beautiful, shaded courtyard and seats up to 43 guests. With the use of natural light and a statement Mango tree in the middle, the intimate yet social space will appeal to anyone looking for a moment of zen in the concrete jungle.
The branding of NETTE itself also reflects the casual and yet elegant effortlessness of the space and dining experience. Inspired by the padel courts (used as a grid to collect the logo mark), as well as the geometric design of the space and its interiors, the typography is simple and yet edgy, whilst the colour palette evokes the same tranquil feeling that guests feel when arriving at the venue. The geometric shapes have also been used throughout the visual identity, in a way to blend seamlessly with the space.
Photos: Ingrid Rasmussen
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H2R reveals the elegant design of new luxury private members’ club: The 9
The Dubai-based interior design firm H2R has revealed details of yet another project completed in 2021, The 9 – a new luxury private members’ club, located in The Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates.
A regional first for a shopping destination, the opening of the club is the first phase in Mall of the Emirates’ development plans as it further enhances its customer experience, F&B and lifestyle offering.
A destination designed to indulge the interests of the most discerning individuals, luxury shoppers and mall lovers, H2R Design worked closely with the MAF team to design various areas of The 9, as well as Capsule Arts to complement the design with art and decorative accessories.
This includes The Library – a space to read, relax and play with a pool table, library shelving for books and board games; The Suite – a luxury sleeping pod, perfect for jet-lag or a mid-afternoon nap; 9 Cigars – a state of the art humidor and cigar boutique combined with a unique lounge; The Link – a meeting room for conferences yet designed in a contemporary and minimalist style with a beautiful courtyard feature; Sartoria by Sergio Nesci – a bespoke tailoring service for suits and shirts, The Pod – an office; The Fitting Rooms – personal Stylist Services and finally The Barber – for male grooming and treatments.
Speaking about the opening, Husain Roomi from H2R said: “Projects such as The 9 are exactly the type of destination and experience that truly inspires us. Rather than create something seen before, having the chance to create a new destination within the already established one of Mall of Emirates, inspired by the luxury clientele that it will welcome, was a source of great fun for us. The minimalist and luxurious design reflects our personal tastes well and is a fantastic example of how style and the consumer experience can go hand in hand and complement each other perfectly.”
Inspired by the luxurious and yet minimalist taste of its refined clientele, the design pays close to attention to details (much like the detailing of a well-tailored suit), with different textures and layers, a colour palette of dark browns, black and leather. Building on the luxury narrative, sports memorabilia and collectables feature throughout the entire space, alongside framed black and white sartorial photography that captures luxury travel, exclusive sporting events and movie stars. Typographic artworks exhibit motivational and humorous quotes aimed to appeal to the guest’s personality.
From the moment of arrival, the reception’s design aesthetic instantly speaks of sophistication and craftsmanship to appeal to the discerning clientele. Due to the extensive use of marble, custom wallpapers and Italian furniture, guests enter into an exclusive world of curated spaces that have all been tailored for sophistication and self-care.
The Library showcases statement art pieces, select photography artwork focusing on high-class sporting events, and plush lounge seating, with a striking Irish Green Marble tile wall, and Athens Grey Marble stone flooring.
With the use of natural light, the luxury cigar boutique, 9 cigars has comfortable and inviting furniture, dimmed lighting and a well-equipped state-of-the-art humidor. A curated collection of books are displayed amongst distinctive sculptures and decorative accessories in a variety of glass and ceramic, that together set the ambiance.
Taking centre stage within the Cigar Room is a striking and powerful monochrome image of a local Cuban woman posing confidently as she goes about her day, with a cigar casually held between her teeth. The image was taken by established German photographer Bastian Linder, where he manages not only to capture her character, but the feeling of cuba – a city most famous for its cigars.
The Fitting Room stands proud in style and elegance. Crafted elements have been built into the hotel pod which feel like sanctuary, whilst beautiful clothes are showcased against stunning surfaces.
Lastly, The Barber, an intimate private space that offers a host of relaxing services, has been curated with the modern man in mind. The space is complete with olive, chrome, and black marble undertones, presenting a contemporary yet masculine feel.
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H2R Design extends Symphony at Dubai Mall with chocolate boutique, Made by Two
H2R Design continues to craft spaces of significance, influence and soul with the launch of Made by Two, the newest extension of the luxurious café, “Two at Symphony” and fashion boutique store “Symphony”. Located within The Dubai Mall’s deluxe Fashion Avenue Extension, Made by Two is the next piece of the Symphony story, offering a sophisticated yet inviting destination where the art of chocolate truly comes alive.
As the interior design visionaries of both existing Two Café and Symphony concepts, H2R was tasked with continuing the brand’s evolution with Made by Two, all while allowing the chocolate boutique to embrace its own identity. With a goal to set the benchmark within the region’s chocolate retail market, H2R seamlessly extracted the DNA of the brand and added a contemporary, creative touch that allowed Made by Two’s art and form to shine through.
Walking into Made by Two creates an immediate connection to the umbrella brand with its signature brass accents and playful terrazzo stone elements. Two counters stand proud facing each other at the entrance, with their intent to welcome guests with the sights and smells of crafted chocolate artistry and floral fragrances. The curved counter on the left showcases meticulously crafted chocolates within a transparent display, while the counter on the right serves as a space for curating chocolate collections in glass cases with hand-stitched leather straps, complete with delicate floral touches. Hand-painted strokes and gold marbling seen on the chocolate creations, available in boxes from 12 to 96 pieces, mimic the overall design aesthetic of the space.
Continuing the journey, customers are greeted by elegant lounge clusters and plush seating in soft pastel colours, maintaining the feminine essence of Made by Two. One-line art on the walls function as an organic thread to the brand’s identity and script logo, accompanied by tailor-made pedestals to highlight the chocolate pieces and their beauty.
To help bring the space together, H2R reached out once again to international artist Alissa Coe to create an extension of the falling leaves sculpture, composed of delicate, hand-formed porcelain suspended from the ceiling. Additional design details throughout the space include wooden fins to create timeless architectural linearity and feature pieces such as coffee tables made from Indian Green Marble – all working together imaginatively articulate Made by Two’s personality while also embracing the existing Symphony brand.
Husain Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design said: “Creating an extension of an existing brand requires balance from both identity and design perspectives, and our team at H2R were dedicated to finding that sweet spot. It was important to remain true to Symphony’s roots, allowing Made by Two to stand side-by-side to its siblings while also shaping a space that could tell its own story. We are proud to have delivered this for Made by Two and believe that it continues the brand’s presence within The Dubai Mall.”
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H2R Design creates a monochromatic neutral space for homegrown dessert joint—PLAIN
H2R Design worked on the design and fit-out of PLAIN, a new homegrown dessert concept in the UAE. Located in City Centre Mirdif, the new unit in the mall was designed to create a space that celebrates the combination of high-quality desserts in a tranquil ambience, within a unique and uplifting experience. The aim was to create a clean yet attractive aesthetic that would complement a PLAIN’s wide range of flavours and desserts, while still allowing the products to stand out.
The inspiration and mood of the concept can be defined as a monochromatic neutral space, with hints of soft colours and touches of warmth from timber furniture and panelling on some joinery items. The overall theme is tonal and understated yet fresh. H2R Design created a simple and sophisticated logo with clean typography paired with a playful personality that is evident through the pastel colour palette. This has become the brand’s main identifier and the general tone of voice. Custom line illustrations were also introduced, giving the brand a harmonious balance between elegance and play.
H2R Design studied the depths of PLAIN to design a space that truly reflected its identity. The research uncovered the concept’s origins, stemming as a place to serve Japanese desserts. This automatically led to the design embracing a more minimal and tranquil approach. However, the concept had to be more unique than that, it needed an identity for itself. Researching the menu offerings, H2R Design incorporated tones that were inspired by the desserts. For example, the toppings on top of the kakigori (a shaved ice dessert), added a splash of colour to the otherwise plain coloured sweet and the honey toast and pancakes having beige and off-white tones. This led to a neutral on the outside, a surprise on the inside approach for PLAIN’s whole design conceptualisation.
There is alignment from the entrance to the counter at the back, framing the entire space. Tying in the branding with the interior was crucial and this is how H2R Design created the concept from paper to build. Overall, straight simple lines are displayed throughout the space, where everything is there to be functional, while still maintaining a minimal beauty. Due to how minimal space is, H2R Design had to pay attention to details, with how frameworks met, the datum lines of the mesh, and perfecting every single joint.
The use of grey micro-toppings, stones, floor tiles and greys in the structure allowed for H2R Design to create a very lightly coloured space for the display of the food to burst and reveal its personality. Oak timber has also been used throughout the space to ignite some warmth amongst the monochrome mood.
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H2R Design brings Beirut’s vibrant street food to Dubai Marina Mall with Filful
H2R Design has completed the interiors and exteriors of Filful, a Lebanese street food kiosk in Dubai Marina Mall. With a menu based on the bites that are enjoyed across Beirut’s streets, the 70 square meter kiosk houses a shawarma zone, an Arabic bakery oven, a section for drinks and a kitchen area, all visible for passer-by’s to see, smell, hear and develop cravings for.
The brief for this project included packing a variety of operational functions into a relatively compact space and at the same time, creating a vibrant and loud design, highlighting authentic food, illustrating Beirut’s vibrant street food scene. An area adjacent to Filful’s side wall was also a canvas for creative ideas.
H2R Design took inspiration from Beirut’s famed Bliss Street, near universities where students flock to after a long day of classes or after a celebratory night out. Inspiration also came from the colourful boutiques lined one after another across the city, with different materials signs, pop-up graphics and graffiti.
Although Filful is located in a prime location, H2R Design knew that they had to create a design that drew attention to the F&B concept amidst the colourful cinema reels and a variety of illuminating stimulus near the escalators. Additionally, the aim was to create a design that captured the hungry shopper just as they ascend to the floor.
To achieve this, the overall design had to stand out with bright colours and pop art graphics positioning it as the only warm industrial structure in that zone. The design had to blend the existing brand’s colour palette with Beirut’s urban cityscape while showcasing delectable dishes and treats.
“This was a very special project for us because the design was implemented was per the original pitch. Very little was changed, which reflected how we hit the soul of the brand. Filful’s design is simple and honest with industrial connections keeping in with the charm of street shops. We were looking for elements that reflect an old city with a rich history, literature, and some eccentric pop culture. The design took on a lot of contrasts, such as being warm but industrial, new but timeless, and always evolving. The vibrancy of the lively city, despite its challenging past had to be translated into this funky concept. And we had to do all of that in a relatively small space,” Hasan and Husain Roomi, Founders of H2R Designs said.
The design features that have an immediate effect are the textured rough paints, dark wooden tones, glass blocks and acrylics, the neon lighting and signages. Other eye-catching features include the relief slogan side wall, the Arabic oven preparation area with flashy yellow tiles, the blue textured painted panels and the black shawarma enclosure section. There was also the use of contrasting materials reflecting the concept of merging the old and new such as black metal, terrazzo, and coloured acrylics versus the rough textured paints, dark wooden framing and smooth white marble.
The overall unit configuration is a play of volumes and translucency to ensure that the dining concept is not overlooked when walking in the area. The result of Filful’s design is a harmonious combination of styles and materials where the diversifications of art, slogans and signs coalesce into a total transition from a mall dining experience to a street food corner.
H2R Design delivers Chunk at two new locations in Riyadh
H2R DESIGN was commissioned to design two new locations of a Riyadh favourite; Chunk, the renowned home of delightful pastries and desserts made from scratch in Riyadh Park Mall and in the Diplomatic Quarter. The larger of the two new locations is called Chunk Social as it is a space to leisurely dine and socialize throughout the day, while savouring a variety of dishes. Chunk DQ is on the other hand, is dedicated to take-aways and quick service focusing on cakes, crepes and coffees.
Already having established a successful dessert concept with the first Chunk, the client wanted a refreshed approach to the design of the two new locations while retaining the branding styles and guidelines. The goal was to refine the concept and H2R Design was called in to translate their vision into tangible models.
After studying the brief, viewing the locations, and understanding the client’s vision, H2R Design decided to focus on preserving the identity of Chunk but to also uplift the personality with a design that was more in-tune with the concept. With the inspiration to keep it raw, transparent and honest, a minimal interior design was developed keeping the space clean, fresh and neutral. This allowed contrasts to be revealed against the canvas and to let the menu do the talking.
“The inspiration of this project resulted in a design that is simple and refreshing. The secret to creating something that visually appears to have a modest sophistication and seems quite simple, is actually in the detail, which makes the space flow seamlessly. Whether it is the way the edges of the frames are slightly rounded, or the transitions and trims in the terrazzo flooring are spaced, and how they are aligned with the frames of the perimeter glazing, it’s the detail that unites the space into one,” said Hasan and Husain Roomi, co-founders of H2R Design.
“The delicate routing of the marble slabs or the carefully aligned shadow gaps to each joinery piece, demonstrate the intricacy and the attention to detail reflecting the concept’s ideology. It is further translated through the dinning offering and the overall experience of the space,” they continued.
The colour palette of this project can be defined as refreshing and neutral with concrete, stainless steels and black metal as the predominant chromaticity across the locations.
A striking design feature in Chunk Social is the terrazzo flooring, which was placed as a statement facet since the rest of the design is so pure and minimal. However, with the canvas space at Chunk DQ being much smaller, sheer micro-topping was used to cover the floor versus the terrazzo which would have made the space claustrophobic.
Above the flooring, clean and neutral micro-topping fasciae appear with timber detailing in the banquettes to add warmth, along with rattan and designer furniture pieces. Black framing on the walls, in the furniture and in the lighting grid add an elegant contrast to the neutral materials.
The crisp white ceiling and light grey textured walls reinforce the minimal fresh vibe.
Elements such as the hanging shelving in Chink Social subtly divides the restaurant’s dining space and the counters, while maintaining a harmonious connection from one section to the next.
Stainless steel is another prominent element. It has been placed in its untainted form, with no powder coating or electroplating. It is stripped back to its purest form for an authentic look.
Concrete micro-topping on the counters and the joinery items has created a powdery neutral mood. In contrast, black metal was implemented into the design to juxtapose the neutral toned materials.
The space in Chunk Social celebrates transparency from the way the creperie and the open counter are designed. Minimal and accessible, with visible shelving, the open counter and creperie tease diners with glazing for the smell of the mouth-watering desserts and speciality coffees.
The contrasting features of the design are expressed by the white tiles against the dark walls or the micro-topping facets with stainless steel counter tops and framework of shelving.
In Chunk Social, marble table tops umbrella-ed by marble walls, subtly convey the refinement, the unassuming luxury and savvy sophistication of the space. Additionally, there is a marbled column where H2R Design has created a cantilevered style ledge as well as the shopfront’s main signage panel.
Fine mesh was added to create some depth and layer to the raw materials. It was also artfully used as a partition between the central banquette, the shelving display behind it, and to the perimeter wall and windows, to add depth and texture.
Elements of greenery that pop against the canvas, almost feeling like a fresh calm oasis were adopted to create a sense of zen.
For the lighting, a simple grid was drawn, illuminating the space with large round fixtures over the dining area and track lights at the edges. All of the lighting features are in black creating a contrast against the minimal clean white ceiling. The feature lights also highlight the dining spaces, and the spots accentuate the perimeter, shelving, and façades.
H2R Design delivers a minimal yet playful burger joint— Surround in Riyadh
H2R Design created a fun and playful space called Surround in Riyadh with sophistication for the foodies of Riyadh to gather, have great food, and to really celebrate life together. Primarily a chic burger joint, with other indulgent quality foods, the interior design of Surround is colourful, vibrant and an engaging space full of quirky design features which displays the character of the space.
H2R Design worked closely with the client to execute their vision for Surround which resulted in the minimal yet playful restaurant inspiring the sense of community.
“We focussed on making Surround a spirited ‘playground’ for adults, whilst retaining the elegant side. This can be seen in the wall grid, taking us back to school graph paper, with quirky sketches and ‘doodles’ that create a nostalgic language. As there is so much boldness on the higher level of the space with pink taking prominence, we wanted to keep it quite cool and neutral as we worked our way down”, explained Hasan Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design.
“Our methodology was to combine the different ways of harmonising the playfulness with the cultured. We didn’t want to scare people off by being too childlike, and we didn’t want it to feel too sophisticated either. The pink perimeter paint was initially alarming for the client, as it was so protruding. But once all the other materials and furniture coalesced, they loved it! As designers, we always have to remind everyone to be patient until the end, to really see the design as one holistic experience and to believe in it,” Husain Roomi, co-founder of H2R Design continued.
The interior design features distinct use of materials and unusual amalgamations. For example, concrete micro topping was incorporated as a neutral canvas, and the space was built up with different tiles, marble and white, cut in different shapes and angles. Brave colours in the furniture on the higher level form the sense of boldness and fun, while the use of wood and rattan add a bit of temperateness.
The bold colours were influenced by the original branding, in pinks and greens. H2R Design aimed to develop the identity of Surround holistically between the brand identity and the location. The space encourages each visitor to use it differently, as if it were an adult ‘recess’ area where guests can sit in a big group, as a pair or as an individual.
The colours in the furniture portray a fresh feeling with variations of pinks and greens to reflect the branding. These assortments of colours are highlighted throughout the furniture and fabrics, the grouting on the tabletops, and the wall finishes as a datum.- Diners will discover quirky doodles playing on the school for kids’ nostalgic references. The stencil doodles throughout the space engage the guests and remind them of the fun and playfulness they once had at school.
Diners will discover quirky doodles playing on the school for kids’ nostalgic references. The stencil doodles throughout the space engage the guests and remind them of the fun and playfulness they once had at school.