Larger than Light Summer 2016 - Ironside

A beautiful mix of glass and metal, Hudson Valley’s Lambert pendants shine brightly over the bar

Design on the Half Shell Hudson Valley Lighting® shines inside San Diego’s Ironside Fish & Oyster bar Photography by Zack Benson 29

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Mixing nautical chic with modern and whimsical touches, Ironside Fish & Oyster is an irreverent take on the traditional oyster bar.

Located in the up and coming Little Italy neighborhood in San Diego, California, the restaurant’s original 1920s era structure was previously occupied by Ironside Metal Works, makers of wrought-iron gates. “San Diego has a long history of being a major seaport and fishing capital, and Ironside’s menu allowed us to honor that,” said designer Paul Basile. “As with all of our projects, the history and origins of the space helped inform our overall design concept.” Basile’s unique, nautical-inspired design takes this history a step further by enhancing it with conversationstarting details, such as a wall adorned with 2,000 faux piranha skulls, and statement piece fixtures by Hudson Valley Lighting®.

On a backdrop of whitewashed industrial rafters is perhaps the bar’s biggest focal point: a 14-foot-tall arching steel bar trellis scaling the walls of the back-bar. These iron arms evoke giant octopus tentacles, accented by oversized frosted light bulbs.

Other unique touches include plasma cut bar stools, copper tabletops and blended mixed metals throughout the space.

Basile customized and fabricated many of the designs in his San Diego warehouse, including elements of the lighting design.

“Our process is organic, and inspiration for lighting comes from the space itself,” said Bastile. “We start with the lighting requirements, and once that has been determined, we hone in on the style and materials.”

Reminiscent of a stylish cruise ship ballroom, black subwaytiled columns adorned with Hudson Valley’s Blaine pendants separate the bar from the main dining room. Basile created these intricate globe light installations in his warehouse. The pendants encircle the columns from brass chains affixed to massive metal rounds. Hearkening back to 19th century romanticism, Blaine’s intricate construction and sturdy chain suspension provided just the look he had in mind. “The design came first, and we were fortunate to find that the Blaine fixtures so closely aligned with our ideas,” said Basile. “The beading of the Blaine is beautiful, and the antique-inspired glass is spot on. They called to mind a luxurious, bygone era but in a new and modern way.”

Adding to the visual harmony are Hudson Valley’s Lambert pendants above the oyster bar, which create a soft balance of glowing glass and smooth metal. “The Lambert’s nautical vibe worked beautifully with our design concept while also referencing the Blaine,” said Basile. “The combination of the two helped keep our design cohesive.” Basile has used Lambert previously in other projects to great success. “We used the Lambert in Broadstone Balboa Park, a high-end mixed use residential building here in San Diego. Our design concept for Broadstone was to incorporate the neighborhood’s storied history and iconic bridges. The Lambert is both classic and entirely new — it was the perfect fit for this project.”

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Hudson Valley’s Blaine pendants create an effect reminiscent of a stylish cruise ship ballroom

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