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PROJECT
successful design of the space.” Surface mounted spots that blend in with the herringbone strutted timber ceiling are used as the primary light source while decorative fixtures appear elsewhere to enhance the softness developed within the raw and exposed interior. Inspired by Kintsugi, meaning to join with gold in the Japanese art of repairing ceramics with expressed gold lacquer, The Rabbit Hole shares in its celebration of the beauty of imperfection in ceramic objects. This is most apparent in the Speciality Tea Display, where custom designed Kintsugi bowls sit delicately above turned oak timbers beneath three of Allied Maker’s Dome pendants. With their golden shade, they reflect the inspiration
behind The Rabbit Hole’s design, creating a link with the irregular golden joins of the bowls below. The Kintsugi concept is further reinforced with the expansive use of a crushed ceramic tile, featured on the service areas of the café, such as the central monolithic retail display. Above the tile clad monolith, a chandelier made entirely of tea bags by Chilean artist Valeria Burgoa is illuminated by Reggiani's surface mounted Sunios LED projectors, which provide the base of the tea room's lighting. To counteract these highly conceptual feature elements, much of the remainder of the design is more humble in form without being modest in design detail. A steel framed glazed wall complete with custom designed pivoting windows outlines the
Previous Page Handmade Akari light sculptures by Japanese designer Isamu Noguchi sit lightly above tea tables with Volker Haug's Sole Trader pendants suspended in the background. Burgoa's tea bag chandelier is suspended above the a display table and illuminated from above using Reggiani's surface mounted Sunios LED projectors. Above Three of Allied Maker's golden Dome Pendants are suspended above the Speciality Tea Display, drawing links to the Kintsugi bowls below that evoke the Japanese art of joining with gold.