Project Team

design: Marc & Co

photography: Scott Burrows

Suppliers

lighting: Satelight
furniture: James Richardson

Celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue engaged us to design his second restaurant, called Billykart.  Author David Malouf was born and grew up next door. Inspired by Malouf’s evocative descriptions of the houses on slits, Marc & Co decided to design abstracted Queensland houses overlooking the back garden of a fictional billykart mechanic.

Ben’s determination to go the extra mile with the help of Marc and Co drove them to look high and low for the right pieces to bring his vision to life. Their search brought them to the award winning Merano collection by Alex Gufler whose designs are manufactured by Ton, and are coincidentally the makers of the original bentwood chairs in Ben’s first restaurant at Annerley. The Merano collection’s gorgeous lines provide a sharp contemporary look that encapsulates the relaxed feeling and homely look that Ben strives to achieve.

Whilst the natural timbers throughout the venue has worked well to provide a welcoming feel that captures the eye and draws the patrons into the restaurant. Once in the restaurant the patrons can then appreciate the continuity of their attention to detail with the use of beautiful hairpin tables, classic wall features and gorgeous matching chairs and stools.

Chair Merano by Ton

Combines the bottom design made of solid wood with harmonic shapes of bent plywood in the seat and backrest. Thanks to the production technology used, it is remarkably light and does not contain any screws or metal pieces.

James Richardson