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Le Bernardin

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Le Bernadin
Le Bernadin Le Bernadin Le Bernadin Le Bernadin Le Bernadin Le Bernadin Le Bernadin

LE BERNARDIN, NEW YORK, NY - The intent of the redesign of the four-star restaurant was to update the entire space, enlarge the lounge and make it a more desirable destination.  The Chef’s words to describe the new vision: convivial, warm, sexy, and serene. 

The first decision was to retain the iconic teak ceiling, which received major modifications to correct the lighting with less visible units and adjusted to light each individual table. Everything below the ceiling is new.  We reconfigured the former entry to gain a new eastern window looking into the lounge and a view to a featured art piece.  The lounge has an onyx wrapped bar with mother-of-pearl tile.  The curved bar increases its conviviality and focuses on the Chef preparing food.  The teakwood creates visual contrast with the soft whites in the foreground.  A new seating layout included banquettes as well as single tables, a design direction inspired by the theme of conviviality.  Lighting is structured to create both an important splash of light on each table as well as a dramatic uplighting of surfaces around the perimeter of the room.  We consciously sought the effect of a glowing room in which patrons were supported by an atmosphere of ambient  light offset by the carefully orchestrated and concentrated focal points to create visual coherence.

The color tones of the space are drawn from nature and are associated with the delicate seafood served - tones of sand, water and driftwood.  The metal, fabric and climbing vine sheers at the windows pick up light from the base of the wall.  A little shimmer, like water, is added with the vertical metal twisted screens. The teak block screens create a feeling of both privacy and warmth. All seating, carpet, and millwork were custom designed. 

Project Brief

Download Le Bernardin Project Brief

Publications

Pete Wells. “Moving Ever Forward, Like A Fish.” New York Times (23 May 2012: D1, D6.

Annie Block. “A Sea Change: Bentel & Bentel Reinvent New York’s Le Bernardin for Eric Ripert,” Interior Design (January 2012):4-44

John Mariani. “New York’s Le Bernardin Opens and Proves Fine Dining is as Grand as Ever.” Forbes (1 April 2021)

Awards

Le Bernardin - Best Restaurant
James Beard Award
Le Bernardin - Award of Merit
SARA NY
Le Bernardin - 2012 Outstanding Achievement in the Interiors Category
AIA
Le Bernardin - Design Award of Merit
SARA Scope Awards
Le Bernardin - Hospitality/Fine Dining
2012 Best of Year Awards
Le Bernardin - Fine Dining
Gold Key Awards

Filed Under

Restaurants and Clubs

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