Four Seasons Hong Kong is considered a landmark at the edge of Victoria Harbour combining culinary stature with wellness. In 2021, sixteen years after it first opened its doors, the hotel revealed a new welcome experience designed by international interior design studio AB Concept. As part of an extensive refurbishment, AB Concept designed the hotel’s arrival porte cochere and entrance facade, lobby and the Lobby Lounge Gallery, as well as the new award-winning destination cocktail bar, ARGO. This autumn, AB Concept unveils its design for Noi, the new restaurant lounge led by Argentinian-born Michelin-starred chef, Paulo Airaudo.
Following a design brief set by Airaudo himself, AB Concept has divided the new restaurant into two key zones: an Italian style dining room named Italian Silhouette with a capacity of 22 covers, and Doodle Garden which is a more casual breakout lounge featuring a wine bar kiosk and panoramic views over Hong Kong.
The overall design concept is a representation of an Italian silhouette with Japanese infill – as a reference to the food served – and pays homage to Chef Airaudo’s Italian-Argentinian heritage by intertwining Italian architecture and contemporary furniture, as well as a statement wine cellar. Noi, which means “we” or “us” in Italian, offers guests a fun and authentic fine-dining experience and portrayal of Chef Airaudo’s life – from the food he grew up eating, a curated playlist of his favourite 80s and 90s hits, to playful decor inspired by his travels, best-loved films and video games, as well as his many tattoos.
Doodle Garden at Noi designed by AB Concept. Image credit: AB Concept
Noi offers a bespoke experience in each area. It is a fusion of art and cuisine with pattern playing a key part throughout the restaurant as artistic elements adorn the carpets, walls and ceilings, and pop art motifs make their way into the two private dining rooms. Although inspired by pop art elements through the use of colour, the private dining areas are entwined with contemporary interpretation of Italian renaissance moulding and guests can find comfort in AB Concept’s Viola chairs, a collaboration with renowned Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau. A VIP experience is also offered through concealed door access to the second private dining suite and both rooms have access to the curated wine cellar which separates the two.
Diners are welcomed to Noi through a foyer which features a navy colour scheme complemented by seasonal lighting and graphic projections on the carpet. These illustrative elements resemble Chef Airaudo’s vintage tattoos and continue through to the ceiling of the Doodle Garden lounge – which is where its name derives – via integrated LEDs. Here, guests can enjoy a glass of wine from the wine kiosk whilst waiting to be seated in the restaurant area.
Italian Silhouette is the main dining room inspired by traditional Italian motifs and boasting a rich materials and colour palette of deep blues, bronze, dark timbers, leather, rippled glass, and silver travertine. Guests can find comfort in the curved banquette seating which overlooks an open kitchen backed with Japanese tiles, and bamboo screens create layers of atmosphere, separating this space from the Doodle Garden beyond. The level of details throughout Noi shapes the overall experience with the intention of leaving guests feeling inspired.
“Our vision for Noi was to create a fun fine-dining experience that suits the vibrant city scene and celebrates Chef Paulo Airaudo’s philosophy. We are taking diners on an adventure that is both unique and authentic by sharing playful experiences of the chef and his heritage. The concept is contemporary Italian so guests can expect to see a palette of the finest materials, quality bespoke furniture and carpentry throughout to reflect this,” says Ed Ng, co-founder of AB Concept.
ABOUT AB CONCEPT
AB Concept is a design studio founded in Hong Kong in 1999 by architect Terence Ngan and interior designer Ed Ng. Over twenty years they have built a global portfolio of commercial and residential places, bringing the values of their clients to life in physical space with soul. Working as a creative partner with many of the world’s leading hospitality brands – such as Rosewood, Four Seasons, Marriott and Waldorf Astoria – they create compelling environments that make people feel present in the moment. In addition to spaces, AB Concept also designs furniture, lighting and textiles founded on the power of good design to enhance our quality of life. Combining rigour with warmth, AB Concept goes beyond providing solutions to design emotional journeys within their projects, taking care that rational responses are always combined with attention to feeling, alongside function and form; they describe their mission as “translating intangible emotions into tangible realities, designing for experience and memory together.”
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