Creating Badhanna was more than just creating a space for a restaurant. It was a journey of inventing a character that is timeless and adventurous. An imaginary muse, a daring spirit who wanders through Asia and explores every detail of it. Just as us when creating the space, Badhanna went through a bold adventure to experience every detail of the legendary Far East. This made Badhanna to be the most challenging, yet most honest work of our design journey so far. A journey that was inspired by the city of Hongkong – a special place in the world where even finding a hidden bar is an adventure in itself, where cultural diversity, the eclectic cavalcade of different styles, and the hidden and hazardous spirit of speakeasy bars are perfect to leave reality behind.
We had absolutely free hands while designing the space that was originally built in 1886 and already reimagined to be a good base by the previous architect. Our aim was to preserve the unique characteristics of the original place, but add our experiences of eclectic Asia at the same time. A light-filled open space covered in exotic plants meet with dimly lit interiors, where unknown signs and mysterious epigraphs lead our way.
Among several details gathered from cultures all around Asia, there are two attributes that we find essential in the final interior design. One is the unique wallpaper that is meant to give a hint of what our soul spirit, Badhanna, could be like. We did a great research about women in the 19th century who have bravely traveled the world without the help of technology, and inspired by their fearless stories, and we believe we found a depiction that reminds us about what we associate with Badhanna.
We wanted to connect past and future with the details, and we found the art of Attila Stark expressive of this. We have known him and his art for a while now – an art of bold and free associations, paintings and drawings that perfectly captures the essence of Badhanna. Badhanna is a spirit we wanted to leave quite undefined and independent of space and time. This is why we can all find our own Badhanna, our own brave and free spirit, and this is why the wallpaper became the most iconic and beloved detail of the interior.
The other inevitable detail is a fire motif reflected in several parts of the space. Contrary to how it is frequently done today, we used neon light instead of led strips to evoke the daunting streets of Hongkong. It is not only the source of prettier and more spectacular light than led, but its creation and installation is a serious work of industrial design itself. Not only us, but our audience is pleased with the outcome as it is not just visible and well-portrayed from the inside, but also from the outside of the restaurant.
We put a great effort on the small details, too: the bar, the lamps and shelves were all produced after our own design. We recalled our own experience from Hongkong to create an atmosphere resembling a travel diary with the graphics of Attila Stark. Spaces flooded by neon lights, posters carelessly packed on each other, exotic plants appearing here and there create the atmosphere of a never-ending journey to Asia.
Art Director: Eszter Csontos
Illustrator: Attila Stark
Photographer: Márk Viszlay, Kata Balogh, Bálint Kiss,
Text: Anna Kovács
Agency: Socially Budapest
