Anar Restaurant, Souk Madinat Jumeirah

H2R DESIGN was tasked to renovate Persian restaurant, Anar, in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The brief was to revitalise the overall experience and to refresh the layout with a natural flow, effervescence and personality. H2R Design created a space that maintained the restaurant’s traditional spirit, adding modern twists with feast worthy tones. Situated at the heart of the Souk, and overlooking the Burj Al Arab and the tranquil water canal, Anar has attracted diners for a decade with its music, aromas and delectable cuisine. It was certainly time for an upgrade.

H2R Design studied the colour palettes of Persian design, including traditional art, music, language, tastes and flavours, to delve deep into the cultural context and bring it forward into the modern world. They decided that the space required a smooth balance between powerful hues, soft textures and rugged edges. With that as a goal, the design team curated interiors that brought icy lapis lazuli together with igneous burgundies, timbers, metallics and ambient lighting to create a
newly refined version of Anar.

“Balance was an important aspect in the design inspiration,” say Hasan and Husain Roomi, co-founders of H2R Design. “The historic Persian culture and kitchen are full of rich symbols, flaring qualities and temerity while the space attracted cooler undertones. We weaved opposite sides of the spectrums harmoniously with subtle nods to the conventional styles while making it more relevant for this century.”

Starting from the grand courtyard entrance to the art tattooed on the walls, the symmetry on the floors and ceilings, and the carpentry and metallurgy throughout each corner of the restaurant, there is an environment being shaped. Inspired by Persian gardens, the seating area in the courtyard is decorated with suspended lanterns, traditional screens and calligraphic art to complement the turquoise patterned stencils on the restaurant’s walls.

To incorporate an Arabic architectural element in the open kitchen, Mashrabiya panels were added with a bronze antique finish. Perforated mesh in a copper finish was also used for interior detailing, joinery and trims on the walls. Other key features of the interiors redesign include antique smoky mirrors with a mesh of brass. Textured walls were developed to embody a natural feel throughout the space, and they were livened up with different applications and surfaces, to add depth and variation. The neutral tones allow the colours of the feature tiles, fabrics and artwork to pop. A luxurious bar top was built using blue marble to accentuate the turquoise blues of Persian design.