Project Team

design: Rabindra Naidoo, Martin Pirc
audio: Carlton Audio

Suppliers

furniture: Thonet

Enticing diners with its relaxed neighbourhood charm, new Swan Street wine bar Saint.Urban has already become a regular go-to destination for Richmond locals.

Long-time hospitality mavericks Martin Pirc and Daniel Schelbert have had their eyes on the prime Richmond location for years, keen to bring a new style of culinary offering to the suburb.

Hard work and a genuine passion for the project has seen the humble building at number 213 transformed – the pared back walls and rustic floors add an element of authenticity, while the signature art-deco archways and the front terrace create a cosy European ambiance.

It’s a heartfelt attempt to create a space that would endure the test of time and just get better; this has been achieved by hand crafted, locally sourced, resorted and crafted works that have led to a unique light space filled, nocked and cranny, the feeling of being abroad, it is the sum of all of its parts.

Unique features include a curved feature window hand made in Castelmaine by Shush, hand glazed tiles, custom made bench seating with custom made leather throws, suspended horse shoe shelf wine shelving, traditional hard plastered walls, and hand spun brass light fittings.

“The material selected us,” said martin Pirc. “We very much used things that would emulate strong design whilst being very tactile such as waxed blackened steel, recycled timbers, reclaimed French 18th Doors, reclaimed tiled floor, handmade tiles and leather seat coverings, and hand rendered French waxed plastered walls.”

The lighting is intentionally kept low by using 30 or so handmade pendants through the room which give off a warm honeyed glow. The suspended wine shelves, which mimic the horse shoe shape of the bar, have a subtle light with LED lighting enhancing and creating a beautiful glow around the many bottles of wine and objects stored.

There’s a custom-made steel curved art deco window design( and yes they all open), hand glazed tiles, and beautiful old messmate timber for the bar and table sourced from Woodend crafted by Glenn Paris.

Cast Iron French troughs mounted on the walls are used as ice buckets, one is used for outside flower arrangement. A suspended cheese and charcuterie fridge hangs over a Carrara marble island bench cleverly incorporating Vestal filtered water, and a cash pop up till.

Carlton Audio designed and installed the audio system with tone and volume controls adjustable for each room. carlton Audio optimised sound performance for each room using room-specific bass, treble, balance, and loudness controls. Volume can be adjusted by individual room or by groups of rooms.

Speakers are Monitor Audio CT280 and CT165 in-ceiling speakers driven by Cambridge Audio SR20 amplifiers. All run by a Sonos wireless streaming system.

Environmentally friendly water

Vestal Water is an environmentally sustainable alternative to bottled water.
Systems are plumbed in, water is filtered or purified, chilled and carbonated on site, dispensing chilled still and sparkling water in reusable bottles that are supplied with installation.

Vestal Water