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Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. Astoria in Washington, DC by CORE architecture + designApril 19th, 2020 by Sanjay Gangal
Article source: CORE architecture + design Blending Orient Express opulence and “Chinese ruggedness” with an elegant layout, Astoria brings owner Devin Gong’s passion and artistry to crafting cocktails and late night bites to the Washington, DC Dupont Circle neighborhood.  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam
 Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam The cocktail bar and restaurant maximizes a narrow space in a 3-story building with a fully renovated historic storefront. Astoria’s interior design emerged from several sources of inspiration, including its namesake, New York’s first self-made millionaire J.J. Astor and Gong’s childhood love of trains. Co-creating with Gong, CORE designed an interior that fused elements of Astor’s New York City with luxury of The Orient Express trains, where comfort and amenities were integral to the guest experience. Additionally, the combination of French motifs and Chinese elements inspired a contrasting blend of refined and industrial architectural features and materials.  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam Upon entering the bar, guests are transported into a modern interpretation of Victorian-era train travel and old-world New York. The design embraces the building’s narrow architecture to focus linear views and sightlines that play up train-like similarities. For example, the curvature of Victorian-era train car ceilings served as inspiration for the custom curved metal lattice layered over the exposed brick wall to form a dramatic pathway. Velvet booths for cocktail service, reminiscent of luxurious train compartments, line the walls leading to the bar. Seating in the back provides a more intimate setting, and includes an elevated, semi-private booth with train-inspired flip-down seats. The varied seating enables guests to be part of the bar activity or nestle into a more quiet nook with friends. Many elements of accommodation, such as coat hooks and phone-charging stations, are conveniently organized within the booths, as one might find on a train.  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam The service bar is the shimmering heart of Astoria, with its ornate tile and brass accents that you discover as you walk deeper into the space. The bar’s façade features Astoria’s name in custom blue, white, and gold mosaics, inspired by New York subway tile work. The overhead bottle display draws inspiration from the brass railing found in the bygone Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Two small marble peninsulas at each end of the bar seat two people each and provide front row views to the action behind the bar. Composed of a simple palette of French blue, white, mahogany tones, and brass, CORE created a layered and harmonious design that truly transformed this small space into a neighborhood gem. The main floor is dedicated to guest seating and features an efficient cookline and food finishing equipment, while the basement is used for food prep work and storage. Astoria offers guests an ever-changing selection of craft cocktails and a food menu that focuses on small dishes influenced by Sichuan and Korean cuisine.  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © Ron Ngiam  Image Courtesy © CORE architecture + design  Image Courtesy © CORE architecture + design  Image Courtesy © CORE architecture + design
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Tags: DC, Washington Categories: Bar, Interiors, Restaurant |
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