Bushra is the Arabic word for a good omen, perfection or good news.
The idea behind designing Bushra by Buddha-Bar was to create a destination that transformed from day to night, offering a nostalgic yet authentic experience of Levantine Cuisine created by celebrity chef Greg Malouf. He is one of Australia's most influential and admired chefs and draws his love of Middle Eastern food from his Lebanese heritage and his European classical cooking training. He is recognised for his innovative styling of Levantine favourites.
The exciting new venue is richly colourful, reflects the region's plentiful heritage, and highlights Malouf's playful use of colour in his dishes. There are small bites, creative salads, succulent and extravagant main courses and desserts with a hint of rose on the menu. The shisha offering creates a rich Arabic atmosphere whilst the space proudly overlooks the bustling marina. The restaurant is a great place to celebrate the miscellanies of life. Bushra by Buddha-Bar is an inviting and unique restaurant that blends colours, layered elements and a harmonious balance of subtle ornate repetition. The design is sophisticated and one that ensures a more informal, relaxed experience for its guests compared to the other outlets in the Grosvenor House Hotel.
Concept
Bushra by Buddha-Bar is a new concept for Levant cuisine. Impressive archways, stylish flooring and detailed carvings in the timber doors are motivated by past great civilisations and religions, and the stylised patterns and geometry are resplendent of Middle Eastern architecture. The colour palette is influenced by the warm hues of the Arabian mountains rich in copper, rust, yellow and purple.
The outside terrace is enhanced with golden tan pouffes, which glimmer as the sun sets over the Arabian Gulf. Slatted timber detailing provides an element of shade with lush greenery hanging down to create a sense of cool. The detailing pays homage to the region's heritage and affords welcome attention to detail. Traditionally styled lighting, oversized seating and plump, colourful cushions give a sense of luxury.
Various Design Elements
The sympathetically curated collection of furniture and décor is accented with the strong use of geometry in the diverse hues of the desert landscape. LW Design has carefully chosen all the furniture to be rich in black and white with pops of authentic Islamic colour combined with the texture and pattern fondly recognised across the region. Highlights include strikingly lit archway feature walls, spectacular coloured tiles, and black and white marble mosaic flooring with paler Arabic design inlay marble features. The dramatic polished plaster walls and ceilings give a sense of intimacy, cosiness and drama. Outside, there is a limited collection of simple structure pergolas with a modernistic interpretation of traditional mashribiya. The central bar has a carved slatted timber base with beige tiles highlighted with bronze metal studs. The live kitchen area is staged with feature tiles framed with timber screens.
Challenges
The main challenge of the design was the ceiling height. With a maximum ceiling height of 3.3 metres, creating a sophisticated and inviting space was challenging. Designers used bold archways lined with Moroccan-inspired tiles and an eclectic range of furniture to bring character to the room. The arches anchor the spaces acting as a screen, allowing depth and views throughout the restaurant. Beautifully lit shelving niches are in place to create drama and distract the diner's eye from the ceiling height.
Furniture chosen
A combination of expertly chosen banquette seating is upholstered in opulent rustcoloured leather and, velvets contrasted with modern fully-upholstered sculptural dining armchairs, black metal arch detailed dining chairs, and mid-toned oak table tops with brushed brass edge detailing. Cleverly cut metal wall lights create atmosphere and interest with patterned shadows. Feature oversized traditional chandeliers in perforated metal and opalescent glass are the crowning glory and create a sense of drama at the ceiling level. Outside, there are Arabian-styled upholstered all-weather sofas, soft Moroccan pouffes and knitted black cord outdoor lighting pendants.
The standout of the project
Bushra by Buddha-Bar has a strong identity and is home to Lebanese celebrity chef Greg Malouf who excels in creating colourful contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine. LW Design has created an opulent restaurant design with many regional elements without feeling too overwhelming. Their clever use of Arabian colours, high ceilings, towering archways and an eclectic blend of traditional and modern mashribiya offer a royal palace ambience. The colours artistically reflect the local region's influence and bring the splendour of the majestic mountains to your table.
The teal Arabic-inspired carved wall panels that line the restaurant are offset by an abundance of greenery from the ceiling and the many planters positioned throughout the restaurant. The greenery extends onto the terrace, which opens fully into the main dining area and creates an extension with breathtaking unobstructed views of the marina, creating an inviting and unique experience for the guests.
Material Used:
1. Victoria Cronin Lighting: Feature table lights
2. Cane-Line: Feature Rattan Furniture
3. Vintage Middle Eastern Accessories: Local markets and the Museum of Handicrafts
4. Pierre Frey: Upholstery fabrics
5. Fireclay Tile: Moroccan Hand painted patterns
