Silver Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Portobella Symphony Restaurant
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Restaurant Project-Portobella
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 17,490
- Verification code 5733EBEC5A · Verify this award
About Portobella Symphony Restaurant
This project features a rare combination of hand crafted stucco ceilings covering the entire space and an open kitchen concept that brings transparency and theatre to dining. Every ceiling ornament and column detail was sculpted by artisans, giving the restaurant a museum like quality. Together with crystal chandeliers, pastel walls, and bespoke furniture, the design merges classical grandeur with modern hospitality, creating a refined yet welcoming atmosphere.
Portobella Symphony Restaurant by Aysel Mahmudlu represents a masterful synthesis of historical architectural vocabularies with contemporary hospitality sensibilities, creating an environment that simultaneously honors classical traditions while embracing modern comfort and aesthetic sophistication. The design demonstrates remarkable fluency in neoclassical language through its employment of rhythmically spaced pointed arches, elaborate crown moldings, and relief-ornamented ceilings, yet these elements are rendered in a palette of soft celadon and sage that feels decidedly fresh and contemporary rather than historicist or nostalgic. The ceiling treatment merits particular attention for its inventive fusion of Art Deco geometric strapwork with traditional plaster relief techniques, creating an overhead plane of considerable visual interest that rewards sustained contemplation. The chromatic strategy reveals sophisticated understanding of how cool aqueous tones establish spatial serenity while warm amber, cognac, and natural wood elements introduce essential warmth and human scale to the grand proportions. The gallery arrangement of paintings on the rear wall introduces an element of cultivated eclecticism that suggests both personal collection and cultural conversation, each frame contributing to a larger chromatic composition while maintaining individual character. Natural light, entering generously through tall windows, activates the space with gentle luminosity that shifts throughout the day, creating an environment responsive to temporal passage. The design successfully navigates the challenge of creating intimacy within monumentality, employing furniture scale, textile warmth, and botanical elements to establish human-scaled zones within the architectural grandeur. One might consider how this space invites lingering, conversation, and the pleasures of shared dining within an atmosphere that elevates quotidian acts to ceremonial occasion.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The project combines hand-crafted stucco ceilings extending across the entire space with an open kitchen concept that introduces transparency and a sense of performance. Each ceiling ornament and column detail was sculpted by artisans, highlighting cultural heritage. Crystal chandeliers, pastel-toned walls, and custom-made furniture establish a dialogue between classical references and contemporary hospitality, resulting in a refined environment with a welcoming character.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The restaurant covers 800 sq. meters with a ceiling height of 7.5 meters. Floors feature wood-imitation ceramic tiles, complemented by hand-crafted stucco moldings and a custom staircase with brass accents. An open kitchen fosters transparency, while acoustic adjustments ensure comfort in the double-height space.
- Tags
- Luxury Restaurant Interior, Handcrafted Stucco Ceiling, Bespoke chandeliers, open kitchen dining, European elegance, cultural heritage design, contemporary luxury, architectural molding, fine dining experience, Baku design landmark,Azerbaijan restaurant
- Production Technology
- The project features hand-crafted stucco moldings for ceilings and columns, decorative plaster wall finishes, and ceramic tiles imitating wood for durability in a high-traffic space. Marble-effect porcelain defines key surfaces, while bespoke metalwork with brass accents shapes staircases and railings. Custom lighting fixtures highlight details and enhance atmosphere.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was to reinterpret traditional stucco and molding techniques within a contemporary restaurant setting, balancing artisanal craftsmanship with modern construction standards for durability, acoustics, and functionality. Another difficulty involved integrating an open kitchen into a refined dining hall while coordinating large-scale custom ceilings executed entirely by hand.
- Project Duration
- The project was conceived in 2021 and completed in 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan, establishing a restaurant that blends European influences with the city’s dining culture.
- Operation Flow
- The open kitchen reveals the cooking process, reinforcing transparency and trust. The layout supports smooth circulation, while coordinated colors, textures, and lighting guide guests intuitively through the space. The design balances hospitality and efficiency to enhance interaction.
- Research
- The project draws on research into European palatial interiors and the tradition of handcrafted stucco. Historical molding techniques were reinterpreted with modern materials to ensure durability while retaining artisanal character. The design integrates cultural heritage with contemporary hospitality, creating a multisensory environment where tradition meets modernlifestyle.
- Inspiration
- The design draws inspiration from European palaces and the tradition of artisan craftsmanship. It revives hand-crafted stucco work within a contemporary restaurant setting, while incorporating an open kitchen to emphasize transparency and interaction between chef and guest. The project aims to create a cultural dining space where heritage and modern lifestyle converge.
- Image Credits
- Photographer: Akbarov Eldar
Interior Design: Azul Bureau, Aysel Mahmudlu
Project Direction: Aysel Mahmudlu - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Aysel Mahmudlu, Azul Bureau, 2024. All rights reserved.