Award-winning Los Angeles-based design studio Bells & Whistles designed the 3000 square-‐foot Blue Ocean Robata + Sushi Bar as a reflection of the fresh, redefined version of Japanese cuisine it serves; something completely new and non-‐traditional. “Complementing the expectation-‐defying cuisine offered at Blue Ocean with a similarly unanticipated space was an exciting challenge,” said Bells & Whistles’ principal designer Barbara Rourke, who, along with co-‐principal Jason St. John, responded with a conceptual approach both modern and uniquely oceanic.
The experience starts with the exterior space and landscaping that mimics coral beds, a rocky shoreline and surface-‐grazing minnows swimming alongside the origami-‐inspired signage. A sculptural, geometric fish entryway beckons the guest indoors and transports to a wondrous undersea world with wood flooring the color of the sandy ocean bottom, urchin- ‐like lamps, and delicate bubbles of air floating to meet the refracted light of the ocean’s surface as symbolized by the origami ceiling. The modern, geometric design is inspired in no small part by its location - the tidal plains of Carlsbad State Beach and the rich marine ecosystem that inhabits the coastal kelp beds. The sunlight, energy and colors of Southern California provided a rich tapestry of tones and shapes that drove the design process.
Material Used:
1. Origami tile – Urban Archaeology
2. Origami tile – Wa-Kei
3. Wood floor – Du Chateau
4. Mirros – Glasswerks
5. Restroomsinks – WS Bath Collection
