AMBROZIJN

Interior design + branding

Location: Valkenburg, The Netherlands

Year: 2021

Winner Entree Awards 2022 - Best Restaurant Design

Restaurant Ambrozijn is located in the Irenekerk, dating from 1891, whose design is attributed to the famous architect Pierre Cuypers, known for buildings such as the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station. After a fire in 2018, the church was radically restored and renovated. For example, a new slate roof has been installed, the floors have been renewed and all windows made of marlstone have been renewed. The exterior of the national monument has been returned to its original state as much as possible.

The inside, on the other hand, has been completely renovated according to the vision of Ontwerpbureau Reiters.

When you step through the original old wooden church doors, you look directly at the open kitchen, which is surrounded by the dining bar. You can dine on comfortable velvet upholstered bar stools while watching all the delicious dishes being prepared.

Above the open kitchen we have created an aperture in the first floor. This way, the guests sitting upstairs can also see what's happening in the kitchen downstairs.

In the aperture dangles a brass mobile designed by Ontwerpbureau Reiters with lighting.

Here and there you can still see traces of the blackened walls, we didn't want to make everything 'spotless'. It should be possible to see what happened in the past. The rough walls, damaged by the fire, and soft materials such as the furniture fabrics and curtains form a stimulating contrast.

The custom-made wall lamps are made of the same patinated brass with which the extractor hood of the open kitchen is covered and contributes to the contrast with the blackened walls.

DRINKING-/ CHURCH ORGAN AS AN EYE CATCHER

When you look up upon entering the church, you will immediately see the impressive black steel cocktail bar through the hole in the aperture. This is on the first floor on an elevation, like a kind of church organ, with the bottles - as a wink - in so-called organ pipes.