Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Cream-colored fabric curtains hanging, with a crumpled fabric floor.

Project

Location

Date

Area

Program

Status

Photographer

Press

Baking of Alica

PDLM, Dubai

2024

200 sqm

Hospitality

Built

Alessandro Fagioli

dezeen

  • When the owner of the farm-to-table eatery and bakery decided to launch its first flagship in the Port de la Mer development in Jumeirah, Dubai, Beirut-based studio Etienne Bastormagi was contacted to lead the architectural design.

    The studio spearheaded the project with a series of strategic collaborations, bringing together regional designers and artists, opening conversations about the land, contextuality, materiality, and what it means to be inspired by the local culture. This collective aimed to create a local aesthetic that would align with the eatery’s concept. Using natural materials such as wood, paper and leather, the eatery’s overarching aesthetic was guided by earthy tones and colors reflecting the locally sourced menu.

    The brief was to design and encompass an open inviting bakery / eatery area to showcase the warmth of baking, along with wireframe furniture designed to capture the abundant sun allowing the space to be designed by beautiful geometries through natural light, making it a gathering place for visitors. The architect's vision was to focus on the art of craftsmanship, from baking to ceramics, and celebrate local handcrafted pieces. The eatery’s commitment to slow living is embodied in the thoughtful, tactile experience of the space, encouraging guests to savor not just the food, but the entire atmosphere of mindfulness and deliberate simplicity.


Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Isometric illustration of a restaurant interior with green decorative elements, tables, chairs, and walls with art.

  • The 'Super Simple Lamp' exemplifies Post Industrial Crafts' commitment to a circular economy.

    This scone, custom-designed for the Bakery/Eatery in collaboration with Studio Etienne Bastormagi, showcases the harmonious intersection of design and sustainability.

    Crafted from 100% recycled plastic and 3D printed using our large-arm robot, it demonstrates PIC’s dedication to eco-conscious manufacturing.

Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior Design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Interior space featuring a wooden desk, modern black chair, portrait wall art with flowing lines, small lamp, dried flower vase, and natural sunlight.
  • A chair with a shadow of palm trees cast onto its backrest, positioned next to a round table in a dimly lit room.
  • Wooden shelves with jars, cans, books, and pomegranates, next to a refrigerator, and a framed artwork of two smiling women at the top.
  • A round wooden table with a metal vase holding dried flowers and a small decorative object, with sunlight casting shadows on the table surface.
  • Empty kitchen shelf made of green metal wire with dishes, glasses, and boxes stored on it.
  • Display case with assorted baked goods and desserts in a cafe, with hanging paper lanterns and plants in the background.
  • Close-up of black metal and beige wooden chair with a striped pattern, shadowed and tilted.
  • A small black coffee cup on a black saucer on a white round table with shadows from sunlight, next to a green stool with a plate of butter and bread.
  • Close-up of a cream-colored kitchen cabinet door with a round, green knob, partially reflected in a mirror.
Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Empty restaurant dining area with wooden tables and chairs, hanging paper lanterns, wall art, and sunlight streaming through windows.
Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Exterior view of a bakery/eatery named 'Alica' with potted plants in front, wall-mounted light fixture, and outdoor seating.
Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - A stylized isometric drawing of a modern dining area with a long dining table, chairs, pendant lights, and wall art.
Etienne Bastormagi Architecture and Design - Interior design - Hospitality - Baking for Alica - Interior scene with beige curtains, a white rolling table with vegetables, a glass vase with pink blossoms, and a green metal shelf with dishes.

  • “the eatery drawings celebrate the harmony between nature, land, and human effort. Made on recycled paper, they reflect the beauty of harvesting grains and the passion behind organic growth.”


    A series of indoor-outdoor spatial experiences guide the different components of the project and created themed outdoor spaces, that are either classroom extensions, or gardens for the playground and dining spaces of the students.

    The kindergarten contains 9 main classrooms in three different volumes each of which caters to a specific age group of students, linked to the support facilities that includes an indoor playground, a canteen, and administration facilities.

    The building is formed entirely of a single material – concrete – that embraces the different green spaces.

    The canopies and details of the project are designed as light metal structures, contrasting the immersed structure.