Ananas Bar and Brasserie, situated in a heritage listed building in Sydney’s historic The Rocks, melds an old-world colonial style with the luxury and classic glamour of Paris’ hottest night spots. Ananas, or pineapple, has long been a symbol of hospitality, and as such a rarity in France in the 18th Century became an item of celebrity and curiosity; as the centre piece of a food display it represented good cheer and welcome. This strong visual motif begins in the bar with oversize pendant lights and French hand-painted tiles on the back bar and carried through the rest of the restaurant past the oyster bar to the large open dining room, the private dining room and even to the bathrooms.

In order to achieve the authenticity of Paris in the roaring 20’s a research trip was undertaken by the designers. It was a totally immersive experience where the designers sourced furniture and objets d’art, traversed the city and its sites and indulged in exquisite food and champagne in city hot spots by night. Inspiration certainly came from the interiors but the real glamour came from the Parisian men and women, the way they walked, congregated on the pavement outside the any number of bistros that lined the streets and most importantly the way they dressed. All of these uniquely French cultural tendencies informed everything from the layout of spaces to details as small as the leather trim to the tops of the banquettes.

A number of items were found in Paris markets. A dressing table from an old theatre with an oak base and a marble top and three mirrors for applying makeup was appropriated; the mirrors are now in the ladies bathrooms and the table sits on a mirrored plinth in the bar. The other piece is the chandelier over the maitre d. It comprises of hundreds of glass rods that diffuse light in a spectacular way.

Most of the chairs and stools came from Thonet from the range of classic Bentwoods we have come to expect in a French bistro. Luchetti Krelle made this furniture their own with custom upholstery and matching paint dipped tops. They also arranged for Thonet to bring from Europe a new style of Bentwood not seen in Australia before. Luchetti Krelle also love the Frag Titti stool and chair in the bar area; a modernised bentwood upholstered with amazingly intricate laser cut leather.

For Luchetti Krelle the most pleasure came from the number of custom elements introduced to the space to create a truly unique experience. They were able to commission a local artisan to produce hand painted tiles of fish and molluscs adorn the oyster bar while a French artist was responsible for the pineapple tiles in the bar.

Luchetti Krelle designed all of the waiter stations, banquettes and bathroom vanities to reflect modern French brasserie furniture. They created a huge mural for the dining area that spans the length of the room. The inspiration came from the Art Deco damsels from art and advertising of the period. Red flowing hair, a gown slipping evocatively from one shoulder and of course pineapples, all feature.

During their time in Paris they visited the Musee d’Orsay. What captivated them was the ethereal way the works of Impressionist artist Edouard Manet glowed when viewed in person. The scandal of the work Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe, where a nude mademoiselle is seated beside two fully clothed men, captivated audiences then and even now. They had to introduce one of these guests to our picnic to hint at the titillating and debauched goings-on of the restaurant.