Innovative design iIlluminates an Art Nouveau-inspired hotel restaurant

The influence of Art Nouveau’s elegance is immediately obvious on entry to The Playford Hotel. A handcrafted brass reception desk with rhythmic curves is a sculptural and functional art piece, and luxurious details throughout the hotel speak to the decadence of the Art Nouveau era – a prelude of what to expect from the hotel’s award-winning Luma Restaurant & Bar.

When revitalising The Playford Hotel, Fady Hachem, founder and principal director of architectural firm Hachem, wanted to craft a space that everyone would enjoy – a space to gather, enjoy delicious food and be entertained.

“One of the things I thought was impressive was the food and beverage at the hotel’s restaurant, which was very underutilised,” he says. “I really wanted to turn it into something exceptional for Adelaide.”

While the original layout of Luma Restaurant & Bar featured a bar area, seated dining and a stage for cabaret performances – which have all been retained in the new design – it was missing the ‘wow’ factor.

“We came to the conclusion that it needed to be a destination bar and restaurant – not just a service for the hotel. The way we did this is through creativity and innovation; we really wanted to innovate in the space and do something special.”

The sculptural chandelier, hand built by Matthew Barter of Major Graphics, has been custom designed to wrap around the columns.

Luma has a bar area and a restaurant space, separated by a cabaret stage for performances.

The layout and palette

There was one major constraint: the size of the space could not be changed.

“The existing spatial planning worked, but we changed a few things such as increasing the bar size and bringing the kitchen to a more modern standpoint,” explains Fady. “We’ve crafted the space into two halves – there’s the restaurant half and the bar half, with an amphitheatre in the middle. It means there are three distinct experiences within the one space.”

From the hotel’s lobby area the restaurant reveals itself to the left, enticing visitors to explore further. “Even if it’s just to have a drink while they’re waiting to check out,” says Fady. “It was really important to have that connection; we didn’t want Luma to be in isolation.”

Taking cues from Art Nouveau, the restaurant features elegant panelling and a brass coffered ceiling, with a palette of rich, earthy neutrals introduced through the furnishings.

“We’ve added a little bit of colour through some of the styling pieces,” says Fady. “Everything is textured; you can touch and feel everything. I think that’s really important to create a micro environment for guests that isn’t stale or cold. Everything needs to be tactile, and it needs to feel like quality.”

Each seating area has been carefully crafted to give visitors a comfortable, elevated dining experience.

Art Nouveau panelling curves from the wall to the ceiling.

A custom-designed sculptural ceiling light

As for that ‘wow’ factor? “We needed a very contemporary statement for the hotel and for Luma – and what better way than to create an Art Nouveau sculpture through lighting,” says Fady.

By researching motifs typical of Art Nouveau and taking notes from The Playford Hotel’s logo, Hachem designed a sculptural chandelier that flows above the dining spaces and around the columns in an undulating form, made from 620 lineal metres of LED moulded tube.

“It encompasses the whole space. It’s a key element that is very distinctive for the venue and is something that hasn’t been done before.”

Dimmable at night, Luma’s sculptural chandelier enhances the experience for those dining at the venue, and like the rest of the project, the neon lighting is a contemporary twist on Art Nouveau design.

“To the left of the reception, you’ll see Luma in the distance. The reason why we’ve allowed this sightline between the lobby and the restaurant is to invite people to go and have a look,” says Fady.

Brass detailing is seen throughout the restaurant.

“Being a refurbishment, we couldn’t remove everything that was existing – nor did we want to. We had to carefully craft the design to complement what was already there and be very selective in terms of material selection,” says Fady.

“Lighting, in particular, needs to work on many levels. It’s not just a functional aspect – it creates a distinctive atmosphere and a micro environment that can really amplify the experience of a space. The client and I spoke early on in the design process about creating something unique, and it’s in public areas like this that we can push the boundaries a bit more and have a bit more fun with the design.

“The project was also a bit personal in the sense that I wanted to create something special for Adelaide – the city was missing something of this calibre. I wanted it to resonate with the public. Everybody talks about the lighting and that was the objective of the design – to make sure that people go to Luma, see the chandelier and share photos of it.”

And fittingly, the name of the restaurant – Luma – means ‘light’ in Esperanto.

“It’s something that really captures the spirit of the project.”

Discover more hospitality and commercial projects by Hachem.