The design accommodates a grand dining room, a more intimate bar, open kitchen, and private dining room. The Carbon Bar aims to set the stage for a new dining and drinking experience with theatrical lighting, rear-view mirrors, sets, and a green room that overlooks the main dining ‘performance’ space. Its awesome height is both pronounced and defined using architectural elements and lighting to strategically embrace diners in various seating scenarios.

The Carbon Bar sets out to create a relaxed environment within the grand and potentially formal scale of the old recording studio, while selectively taking advantage of the awesome height.

The illumination and acoustic challenges for dining and conversing in such a space were embraced as design opportunities, which worked to define and distinguish a variety of experiences within the large space.

Cultural elements in neon and fabric banners recall the history of the space to familiar locals and newcomers alike. The “Electric” neon sign, “Baby Blue” banner and plastic Disney characters punctuate the experience of this new setting for Barbeque, Kettle Corn and Split Pea Fritters.

The design devises a grid of customised, oversized pantograph lights, a series of table specific spots, neon accents, and a custom fabric chandelier that collectively define the zones of the restaurant now wrapped in routered, plywood panels like heavy stage curtains that are interrupted to expose Victorian brick, distressed concrete, and an unsightly duct absorbed by bands of colour much like a piece of installation art.