hospitalitystyle.com

(July 2008) posted on Fri Jul 25, 2008 EDT

A venerable name in Swiss hotelerie imports European panache to an eponymous Miami restaurant.

By Val Hunt

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In Miami, the litmus test for style measures who can push the aesthetic envelope the farthest and fastest. It should come as no surprise that one of the newest restaurant/nightclubs on the scene would be unconventional in every sense-from its inception to its construction to its daily execution.

Opened in March, Badrutt's Place stands out not only because it mixes opulence with modernity, but because it comes by its Euro-chic look and menu honestly. Restaurant owner Johannes Badrutt borrowed some intellectual capital built over generations at his family's legendary luxury resort, Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, to blend unique service and style into a marketable brand. And Miami's up-and-coming Brickell neighborhood had just the site for Badrutt's gamble.

Badrutt's Place bloomed from nostalgia-and its owner's hankering for continental tapas. "I've been living in Miami about six years, and there are not many restaurants I like. Brickell is a bit lacking in decent European food," says Badrutt, who learned about cuisine in the award-winning kitchen of the hotel founded by his adventuresome great-great-great grandfather.

He adds that many of the young professionals who work in Brickell's financial district and the high-end buyers moving into the area's growing residential component were driving 15-20 minutes away to South Beach for their nightlife.

He saw an opportunity to invite these residents to discover a few of his favorite things about European hotels. "I like the atmosphere in hotel lobbies-especially old, traditional hotel lobbies," Badrutt says. "They're very elegant but have an eclectic mix of furniture and spaces that can be used in a variety of ways." He enlisted the help of Miami designer Alison Antrobus to breathe contemporary life into his memories.

Antrobus paired pieces like sweeping 16-foot taffeta drapes with distressed French oak floor boards. Intricate, old-fashioned chandeliers drop from a multi-colored LED ceiling. Even the furniture is part of this twofold scheme. "We have 120-year-old upholstered furniture and we have Antrobus' original, exclusive creations imported from Italy," Badrutt explains.

Over-mixing would have diluted the impact, however. "Most people couldn't get their heads around the fact that I wanted to use a floor that looked old," Antrobus says. "I stuck to my guns on that one because if the floor looks polished and finished, then the entire concept of ‘causal elegance' would have been blown."

The floor may be rustic; the ceiling is anything but. A high-tech LED system incorporated into the ceiling changes the colors, patterns and brightness. Dark, graphic prints bring a sensuality to the walls. Bold colors splashed throughout introduce a Miami vibe.

Antrobus whittled out several distinct zones with seating groups to incorporate the multi-purpose feel her client sought. The "bistro" features innovative tables that pull double-duty. "We wanted this area to be used as a lounge bar and for dining, but we had an issue with the table height-cocktail tables are typically lower while dining tables are higher," Badrutt explains. "So we are installing height-adjustable tables that shift easily from one use to another."

A relaxing reprieve by day and people-watching perch by night, the "library," nestled toward the rear of the complex, sports a daybed and sleek, wooden bookshelf filled with artsy knickknacks, old books and historic photographs. "It makes you feel like you're in someone's private residence," Antrobus says.

At the center of the restaurant is the elevated VIP lounge. To increase operational flexibility, Antrobus installed motorized screens that can wrap the VIP section. "People can be seen by everybody or they can use the optional screens if they just want to be in their own micro-environment," Badrutt says.

Unconventional as it is, the style Antrobus amalgamated could be coming to Moscow and Dubai. "This whole concept is modular, and it can be easily reproduced in different scales depending on the size of the space you're using," Badrutt says.

These regions are no strangers to edgy design, but Badrutt's advantage could be his namesake. "With the incredible history of hospitality experience that came with the client, I felt a huge responsibility to make the place worthy of royalty," Antrobus recalls. And did she succeed?

Let's just say this neo-Euro-chic lounge ain't your great-great-grandfather's palace. 

 

SOURCES

Badrutt's Place, Miami

Owner: Johannes Badrutt, Miami

Design: Antrobus Design Co Miami Beach, Fla.: Alison Antrobus, owner/designer

Outside design consultant: Systemalux Inc., Montreal

Architect: Benson Architects, Miami Beach, Fla.

General contractor: Halloran Construction, Miami Beach, Fla.

Accent lighting: Bensons Lighting & Fan, Miami

Audio/visual/special effects: Infinite Sound, Miami

Drapery: Arias & Spaces, Miami

Flooring: Vintage Hardwoods, Washington, D.C.

Furniture: Sibone, Miami

Tables and woodwork: Lindner-Holding, Arnstorf, Germany

Venetian stucco: Nikolay Stefanov, Miami

Wallcoverings and materials: Brambier's Windows & Walls, North Miami Beach, Fla.