Beverly
Centrally located in the fashionable Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, the semi inside/outside bar and restaurant, Beverly, is high in the sky on the 24th floor of Goldfields House on Chapel Street and the views are simply, outstanding.
Think comfortable, curvaceous chairs in soft blush and mustard upholstery, with green and white candy-striped cushioning for lounges, all sitting on a custom travertine and black marble Palladiana tiled floor. This is Hollywood glamour meets LA rooftop bar with a refined Melbourne sensibility.
The colour palette draws on muted shades of yellow, cream, green and ochre, blush pink accents, anchored with restrained touches of black. The effect is light, bright and relaxing. Materiality is marble, travertine and terrazzo, glass and mirror with brass highlights. And, there is something else, a subtle golden overtone (which is apt considering Beverly is located at the top of Goldfields House). Nothing garish mind, just a glow that is reflected and refracted in the materials from the ample natural light that penetrates the interior. Sunset is divine, the space bathed in a golden glow and as the sun goes down, the custom ambient lights shine discretely.
There were challenges in the design process. For example, creating and selecting furniture that is elevated and comfortable yet robust for the outdoors when the roof is open. The kitchen and bar sit tucked away from the open roof area. Open kitchens are always challenging to balance the operational requirements with an aesthetic that pleases the guest. Arched openings with lit fluted glass enable guests to capture the theatre of the kitchen without giving it all away. With very little wall and ceiling mass, an artistic mural was created to bring harmony to the palette. The shapes are organic in form, textural and layered and the end result is simply a wonderful space in which to relax.
