H2R Design was tasked to renovate Persian restaurant Anar, in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The brief was to revitalise the overall experience and to refresh the layout with natural flow, effervescence and personality. H2R Design designed a space that maintained the traditional spirit adding modern twists and feast-worthy tones.

H2R Design studied the colour palettes of Persian design including traditional art, music, language, tastes and flavours to delve deep into the cultural context and bring it forward to the modern world. They soon unravelled that the space required a smooth balance between powerful hues, soft textures and rugged edges. With that as a goal, the design team curated interiors that brought icy lapis lazuli together with igneous burgundies, timbers, metallics and ambient lighting to create a newly refined version of Anar.

H2R Design’s mantra is to go above and beyond designing incredible commercial spaces and instead to shape environments. That ideology is definitively demonstrated with Anar’s design starting from the grand courtyard entrance, to the art tattooed on the walls, the symmetry on the floors and ceilings to the carpentry and metallurgy throughout each corner of the restaurant.

Upon reaching the courtyard, guests will be greeted with a fountain and its dazzling blue geometric pattern tiles featured on the floor.

An open modern design tandoor kitchen allows guest to see chefs preparing traditional bread. Terracotta tiles were added as the backsplash to create a traditional look while functioning as a heat resistant material absorbing higher temperatures and reducing cracking.

To incorporate an Arabic architectural element, Mashrabiya panels were added in the open kitchen with a bronze antique finish. Perforated mesh in a copper finish were also used for interior detailing, joinery and trims on the walls.

Inside the right side of the restaurant, the special ceiling has a patterned metalwork finish, reflecting as an elaborate ornamentation but also provides balance and symmetry to overall design. This idea is further expressed on the floor design adding vibrancy with fresh white ceramic mosaic tiles, against the lively colours of the aqua and crimson furniture.

Modern but Persian inspired lighting was incorporated throughout the restaurant creating sanguine glows and warmth.

Other key features of the interiors redesign include antique smoky mirrors with a mesh of brass, developed by the contractor and inspired by the traditional wooden archways added by H2R Design.

The fabrics of the furniture are all Persian inspired colours and patterns, but here H2R Design didn’t want to be overly traditional. As a result, the colours are animated and full of energy.

Textured walls were developed to embody a natural feel throughout the space, and they were livened up with different applications and surfaces, to add depth and variation. The neutral tones were also maintained to allow the colours of the feature tiles, fabrics of the furniture and artwork to pop out.

A luxurious bar top was built using blue marble to accentuate the turquoise/blues of Persian design.

Lightly stained oak wood was used for the furniture, which is not traditional to Persian design; however, a contrast of lighter tones was needed to complement the floors.