venetian architecture studio kokaistudios reveals the ‘dai forni’, an italian fine dining restaurant located on the top floor of the newly-built four seasons kuwait in the burjalshaya building. the starting point of the design process was to canvas italy and determine which part of its vast culinary heritage and geography to focus on. the team has quickly settled upon the tastes, smells, and textures of the mediterranean and in particular the island of sicily — the meeting point between the cultures of the middle east and europe.

dai forni restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily kokaistudios designboom
all images by seth powers

 

 

the architects have envisioned the space as an oasis for all of the senses with the entrance characterized by an immense green wall, itself an innovative structure filled with local desert plant varietals, and large fire pillars that frame the entrance experience and bring the guests along a sandstone-floored corridor into main dining areas centered around an expansive antipasti counter covered in a pink-hued hand-treated cooper from italy. three large hand-hammered custom made copper wood-burning ovens produced in australia occupy center stage to the right of the entrance corridor. these beautiful ovens are operated daily with a specially chosen hungarianfragrant wood that creates a unique smell and flavor to produce the freshest pizza and bread. 3 semi-circular banquette seating areas are backed by sicilian lava-stone walls to offer a prime view of the chefs at work. the seating and the custom-designed chandeliers take their inspiration from the traditional sicilian woven baskets. this idea extends to the two inter-linkable private dining rooms where the walls are finished in a rough woven rope which contrasts with the doors and sun-screens featuring an intricate pattern created in carved corian that take their inspiration from the local mashrabiya patterns but are in fact traditional lace patterns from sicily.

dai forni restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily kokaistudios designboom
main scene

 

 

while the restaurant is focused on the concept of fire, the bathrooms act as refreshing counter-point featuring a hand-painted blue and white italian tiles and video installation of a waterfall designed by shanghai-based video artists flatmind. the large outdoor terrace, shared with the neighboring asian restaurant sintoho also designed by kokaistudios, completes the oasis concept with its large glass sculpture that acts as the central water feature. 

new restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily
fire column

new restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily
rattan woven wall

new restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily
dining space by the window

dai forni restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily kokaistudios designboom
the dining area

new restaurant in four seasons kuwait conveys the textures and patterns of sicily
bathroom

 

 

project info

 

name: dai forni restaurant at the four seasons hotel kuwait

architects: kokaistudios

chief architects: filippo gabbiani, andrea destefanis

team: sherry g, kasia gorecka, mirei lim, ada sun, shannon guo

location: kuwait city, kuwait

area: 500sqm

client: m.h al-shaya co.

completion: november 2017

photography: seth powers

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom