Pascale Gomes-McNabb was invited to reinvent Penfolds flagship Magill Estate restaurant - a modernist glass pavillion. The brief: an elegant bar and fine dining restaurant using predominantly Australian materials and products.
PGM’s design concept: the oenological notion of terroir combined with Penfolds history to create a bespoke dining environment
The client brief was to create a penultimate dining experience in which to best showcase Penfolds wines, a place that paid tribute to the iconic Australian brand, its place and its history.
The existing structure was deterministic: an elevated space, an expanse of windows resulting in a glass box. The interior had to work well with the splendid, prominently featured surrounding landscape that included views of the vineyards, the hills and the city lights at night.
Building on this and the concept of terroir, the materials are strong and elemental (blackwood, metals, stone and leather), and features emulate the surrounds, the hand-blown glass spheres suspended overhead (a collaboration between PGM & artist Emma-May Lashmar), nodding to the twinkling city lights in the distance.
The design creates a range of spatial experiences for the diner: pre-dinner drinks in the red bar, where you view and select rare vintages from the Heritage cabinet; in the restaurant you watch Sommeliers decanting the wines at bespoke wine stations; mirrors and diaphanous materials open and soften the space. The cellar below is another space to experience the wine.
PGM was asked to consult on every design aspect for the interior fitout. Designing the usual restaurant landscape pieces; tables, chairs, banquettes, waiters’ stations, handbag tables, etc. to the uniforms, door handles, selecting tableware, floral arrangements, etc. Bespoke fittings and furnishings characterise the space, made from Australian materials by Australian craftspersons. Each PGM designed element is unique and individually made for Penfolds, yet all are integral to the whole and work together cohesively, with a curated harmony that flows through the space.
Sustainability is an integral part of the design process for Pascale Gomes-McNabb. Aspects of this design that are sustainable include the use of good quality, very strong durable materials (Blackwood timber, metals, leather, stone).
Pascale Gomes-McNabb tried to respect and retain as much of the original fit out as possible: floor, ceiling, toilets (updated and revitalised, maintaining layout). However lighting and furniture required updating along with the hospitality offer.
The tones and textures of the materials work to bring warmth and humility to the space and a sense of the land. The windows frame views of the surrounding Penfolds buildings, and the colours, finishes and materials in this design reference the existing.