Brisbane’s Libertine occupies prime Petrie Terrace frontage in the trendy, new Petrie Barracks redevelopment in Paddington. The interior is reminiscent of Indochina with ornate and opulent low-hanging chandeliers, classic Chinoiserie chairs and dark timber tables.

“Robert Douglas and myself designed the restaurant,” said Jamie Webb, owner of Libertine. “Robert did all the construction and kitchen design as well as designed and fabricated all furniture and bars out of recycled timber (he deals in recycled timber across the country). The circles behind the bar were made from solid timber. “I did all the finishing design, wallpapers, gold leaf, lacquered wall finishes and colour schemes etc.

“I found all of the chandeliers in various second hand stores in and around Sydney. The soft lights I designed and had fabricated in Vietnam as were the metal screens and bar stools.

“We used a pressed metal on the ceiling which we beat up with heavy chains and then rubbed boot polish on, let it go off and then removed to create an tarnished effect. The floors were existing Australian hardwoods. We used Thonet bentwood chairs for the centre table and had them coloured in a red lacquered custom paint.

“Heath Williams of Firefly did the ambient background lighting. Arkhefield architects designed the external structure, and again I chose the soft furnishings. ”

The derelict heritage listed police barracks which sat vacant for 20 years required Arkhefield’s designs be submitted to the EPA and formed a key design element in the retaining of existing elements of the heritage value of the space.

Libertine’s brief looked to embrace the past and the future both simultaneously and respectfully. This involved acknowledging the historical context of the site and suburb by providing a modern solution for the needs of the client while forming a link to Libertine in Sydney. This is evident in an overlaying of French Vietnamese branding utilised in the space, which was achieved with opulent layering of multiple wallpapers, specialty wall finishes and salvaged chandeliers hung from domed richly coloured recesses.

Luxurious wallpapers and specialised metallic paints were selected for their lush, reflective quality. Pressed metal ceilings were utilized as a link to the heritage fabric of the site with a modern take by exposing the raw metal. Textural, fringed pendants and crystal chandeliers add to the layering of the French Vietnamese theme while providing a moody dining experience. The collaboration with the master craftsman allowed an entirely bespoke nature to joinery and fixtures. This is evident in the crafted solid timber joinery elements, facetted skirtings and handmade metal screens. Being a heritage site many unique existing elements provided opportunity for further embellishment and also allowed us to form the imperative link to the original building, Timber doors, windows, architraves and timber floors were all refinished and restored to their original splendour.

Moody, warm pools of light concentrated over individual tables enhance the dining experience and add to the intimate experience of the restaurant, while wall washing fittings to the perimeter of the space indirectly provide general light and heighten the colour and texture of the finishes.

Overall, the integration of elements designed and developed with a master craftsman, combined with the restoration of existing heritage elements create an environment that is as bespoke as the cocktails that they serve.

“The Libertine project was great to work on especially as we used to sneak into the old abandoned Police Barracks when I was a teenager,” commented lighting designer Heath Williams, owner of Firefly. “So it was great to come back years later to help bring the old girl back to life.

“I wanted to bring a lighting ambience that fitted the old world charm of the space but also a cutting edge feel for the new restaurant, which was a fun challenge.
There is a lot of old wood not only in the floor boards but the fit out designed by Robbie Douglas is constructed out of stunning old recycled timber, so I wanted to keep it very warm, cosy and welcoming.”

Heath did this with lots of narrow dimmed slashes of tungsten light splashing down the wood and the oriental flavoured red and gold wall paper with small pools of warm light over the soft furnishings. He also installed a lot of warm white LED Rope light and warm white Firefly LED Neon under the booths and bar to highlight floor and wood at night, giving depth to the room no mater how busy the space became.

“We were all looking for some classic genuine Chandeliers to bring some class to the room, which were eventually found in an Antique store in Sydney,” said Heath. ” They look amazing, dimmed down at night, the sparkle just draws you in the room from the outside courtyards.”

In the ceiling Heath built a lot of lit LED Neon coves with sections of pressed metal to keep the look of the era, with a new twist.

The Bar features two round classic Asian influenced shelfs which Heath lit with deep oriental red neon.

“I wanted that deep red classic Chinese neon glow haloing around the shelves as if they were floating on the wall,” he stated. “The LED Neon looks just like traditional old school glass neon, but the LED Neon is a safe low voltage PVC tube, so I can get my Hong Kong Kowloon expat bar look with out the danger of traditional high voltage fragile neon in wet working bar. I I always imagined the space as a lost expatriate club bar / restaurant in a cool old building up on the peak in Hong Kong or nestled in the hills of Thailand. I also filled the space with lots of candles to bring in the love.”

The outside courtyard is lined with paper lanterns to draw you in to the restaurant like they do in Temples.