Scarpetta Restaurant, Waldorf-Astoria Doha – Luxury Hospitality Magazine

David Collins Studio designs the first Scarpetta restaurant in the Middle East, located in the new Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Doha.

CONCEPT

Taking inspiration and reference from the brand’s Italian cuisine, the new Scarpetta restaurant at Waldorf Astoria Lusail features a contemporary interpretation of Italian architecture, through use of Palladiana flooring, coloured marbles, and travertine columns. The David Collins Studio design creates a sense of relaxed luxury and occasion within a newly built hotel by WATG Architects. Mirrors and reflective surfaces are utilised to put the guests at the centre of the dining experience. The design draws inspiration from the work of Carlo Scarpa (the renowned twentieth century Italian architect) and his reinterpretation of ancient Italian public buildings. Traditional Italianate architectural details are reinterpreted with a mid-century twist. Simon Rawlings, Creative

Director at David Collins Studio, says:

‘‘Tailored elegance, Italian craft and mid-century charm, bringing the relaxed yet refined ambience of Scarpetta to Doha. Towering travertine, shimmering timbers, sumptuous leathers, and nostalgic lighting create a bar, restaurant, and terrace which capture Italian incantesimo. Having previously created interiors in Doha, I’ve always enjoyed the process, the collaboration, and the exquisite execution, this is no exception. We are thrilled to have contributed to the Waldorf Astoria Lusail, working alongside the amazing teams from around the world.”

Iain Watson, CEO and Founder at David Collins Studio, says:

“Scarpetta Doha represents several David Collins Studio firsts; the first LDV Hospitality restaurant in the Middle East, our first project working with WATG Architecture and the first of our Waldorf Astoria projects to open. The Studio has worked in Qatar for over a decade, and this combined with our understanding of Scarpetta, from our 2008 restaurant in Miami, was an exciting brief to reconnect with the brand and collaborate on. The project was an opportunity to combine our knowledge and understanding of the location and the Scarpetta experience, in an inspired architectural setting. A contemporary interior that subtly blends periods references with sophisticated use of materials and bespoke elements – the hallmark of David Collins Studio.”

THE BAR

128 sq. m / 44 covers Guests enter Scarpetta via glass double doors, with custom triangular door handles in cast brass. The bar floor is inset Palladiana terrazzo with a dark stained European oak timber border. The ceiling is realised in white plaster with perimeter coffer detailing in European white oak, inspired by traditional Italian architectural forms. The coffer detailing mirrors the floor’s perimeter pattern and divide the ceiling into distinct areas.

Handmade in Italy, custom box pendant lights in solid textured cast glass are suspended from the ceiling by antique brass arms.

The room is divided by asymmetric wall transitions in vein-cut travertine as well as travertine-clad columns which provide areas of privacy. Perimeter walls are finished in a white dragged plaster, to give the impression of stucco texture – another nod to traditional Italian materiality.

The centrally located bar is oval shaped and free standing, with a central travertine column featuring cut out display shelves for bottles, the interior faces of which are mirror clad. The bar and joinery are realised in ribbed dark oak, with a Calcutta Oro marble top and polished stainless-steel detailing. Polished stainless steel continues around the bottom of the bar, giving the sense that it is floating within the space.

‘Holm’ table lights by London-based designer Malgorzata Bany sit on the bar, hand-cast in jesmonite. Custom umbrella-shaped ceiling lights with parchment vellum shades are suspended above corner seating areas, alongside cream fabric and leather wall lights with brass trim.

Bar stools are custom designed in antique brass, with cognac coloured leather upholstery and polished brass stud detailing.

THE RESTAURANT

146.5 sq. m / 56 covers

David Collins Studio created a bespoke two-tiered host station, clad in ribbed Verde Alpi Scuro marble with polished brass details. The restaurant is accessed via the bar, through a unique portal entryway of textured glass panels with dark bronze frames.

The perimeter walls are a neutral textured paint finish. Focal to the space are two central overlaid travertine-clad columns, mirroring the columns in the bar and inspired by the work of Carlo Scarpa.

Four curved banquettes surround the central travertine column, realised in dark oak with cognac leather upholstery and polished brass trim and feet. Dining chairs are also realised in dark oak with dark brown leather upholstery. Dining tables have light timber tops, with a mix of green veined marble and dark oak outer frames. Feature dining tables have Verde Alpi Scuro marble tops.

Continuing from the bar, large box pendants in cast glass hang from the ceiling. Floor lamps are dotted around the room, in brass and saddle leather with bespoke vellum pendant shades.

Bespoke rectangular bevelled mirrors with dark oak frames decorate the walls, suspended from signature David Collins Studio-designed brown leather and polished brass buckle straps.

The sommelier and waiter stations are realised in dark oak with Calacatta Oro marble tops and polished brass detailing.

The restaurant also features a working wine room, separated from diners by a brass mesh curtain and glazed partition divides. Stepped travertine architraves lead out to the terrace, again inspired by Carlo Scarpa.

A pair of ‘Ricasso’ mirrors by textile designer Aimee Betts line the walls, with brass frames decorated with Aimee’s signature black leather cord braiding.

PRIVATE DINING ROOM (PDR)

42 sq. m / 20 covers

The Private Dining Room (PDR) is accessed via a separate vestibule, completely curtained in sheer crocodile crochet fabric from Italian brand Dedar, with contrast orange trim. The space can be hired for private events, with a section of the terrace and WCs in a self-contained area.

An inset patterned rug in burnt orange is surrounded by a dark timber boarder and polished brass trim. The walls are decorated in a stucco-inspired dragged plaster finish, with reeded timber corner posts in dark oak.

The room is dominated by a statement chandelier, hand-made from thousands of individual capiz shell disks. Suspended 1.4 meters from the ceiling at its longest point, the lighting installation spans the entire width and length of the ceiling.

A bespoke dining table and chairs have been created by David Collins Studio for Scarpetta. The table is a monolithic statement piece, with powder coated black metal base. The tabletop is realised in dark oak and lighter contrasting oak inset top and polished brass trim. Custom dining chairs with dark oak legs and polished brass feet are upholstered in Pierre Frey terracotta velvet. Malgorzata Bany’s hand-cast jesmonite ‘Holm’ table lights also feature here.

230123 DSC La Scarpetta
David Collins Studio
Waldorf Astoria
Lusail, Doha
Credit: Ben Broomfield
Credit Social: @photobenphoto
Copyright: Ben Broomfield Photography
07734 852620
[email protected]
www.benbroomfield.com

CIGAR TERRACE

114 sq. m / 20 covers

Double glass doors from the bar lead out to the Cigar Terrace via a custom designed humidor room, created with specialist supplier deART. Clad with Fior di Pesco grey marble, the floor and cabinetry are realised in dark oak with polished brass detailing.

A second set of glass double doors lead from the Humidor to the enclosed and temperature-controlled Cigar Terrace. The space features a domed ceiling in concrete render finish, which continues to the exposed walls. The remaining walls are covered in a floor to ceiling trellis of faux greenery. A focal faux olive tree sits at the room’s centre.

Bespoke rectangular bevelled mirrors in timber and polished brass are mounted from the trellises, alongside wall lights with cone shaped parchment vellum shades.

The floor is tiled in an Italian-inspired checkerboard of Fior di Pesco Grigio, Rosso Lepanto and Calacatta Oro marbles.

The bar has a dark oak framework with clear glass front panels, displaying potted foliage. The bar top is realised in Calacatta Oro marble, with custom table lights. A mirror clad cabinet-style back bar displays high end liquor bottles.

Oversized lounge chairs and small sofas are upholstered in embossed brown leather, with black scotch grain strap details to the backs. Cushions are upholstered in mixed neutral fabrics. Oil burners set within timber plinths feature in both terraces.

MAIN TERRACE

153.5 sq. m / 62 covers

The restaurant terrace adopts a colour palette of grey, yellow and green. Glass double doors with custom triangular shaped handles lead from the restaurant onto the terrace, where guests are greeted with sea views of the Arabian Gulf.

Torchère lamps in chocolate brown leather with polished brass detailing sit either side of the doors, with milky white glass shades. The floor is a grey stone, whilst a full canopy awning in ecru covers the terrace. Oil burners with wooden plinths provide heat and ambient light to the space at night.

The terrace outdoor furniture takes inspiration from traditional Italian forms. Bespoke Amalfi round backed dining chairs feature powder coated grey metal frames and yellow fabric upholstery seating.

Curved banquette seating in painted grey timber is upholstered in yellow fabric. Cushions are upholstered in a mix of block and patterned green fabrics.

Outdoor tables feature both circular and square tops, in the restaurant’s signature Verde Alpi Scuro and white Calacatta Oro marbles. Planters filled with faux grasses decorate the space.

WCS

The WC walls are tiled in alternating bands of white glazed ceramic tiles and Royal Violet marble. Custom bevelled mirrors with stainless steel frames hang on the walls, alongside stainless steel and milk glass wall lights. Vanity units in light oak and polished stainless steel have step detail counters in Royal Violet polished marble, inspired by Carlo Scarpa.

OPENING

November 2022

LOCATION

Waldorf Astoria, Damsa Boulevard – Entertainment City, Lusail, Doha, Qatar

CLIENT

LDV Hospitality – Restaurant Operator

Hilton – Hotel Operator

SIZE 810 sq. m

SCOPE

Interior Architecture, Interior Design, FF&E, Decorative Lighting

CONSULTANTS

Architect – WATG

Art Consultant – Union Art Design

Lighting – Nulty Lighting

Indoor Landscaping – Belderbos Landscaping

Procurement – Christ Turner

Procurement Signage – Square Peg Design

Humidor Specialist – deART