Situated high on the sandstone cliffs at the southern end of Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most stunning new venue, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. Designed by Rome-based Lazzarini Pickering Architetti in association with Sydney-based Tanner Architects, the interior design captures the very essence of Bondi Beach.

Whether sitting on one of the woven loom chairs in the restaurant or standing at the colour-backed glass bar, the experience of being surrounded by sea and sand is intense, captured by clever use of interior mirrors which exploit a sense of spaciousness and fabrics which echo the colour of the sea, sky, the pool below and the sand (in all weathers).

According to Claudio Lazzarini and Carl Pickering, it was "like writing a love letter to Sydney, it’s about everything we love about Australia". The original building was very run down and under reconstruction when the architects were called in. They reorganized the interior for the restaurant and bar which proved to be very difficult because it had the proportions of a long wide corridor, but was quite domestic in scale.

"I wanted it to have the casualness of a sophisticated beach house but with the formality of a restaurant, to create serene spaces that concentrated one’s attention on the view, rather than a long thin space full of tables and chairs," says restaurateur Maurice Terzini. "As well, I didn't want people to feel unwelcome if they were dressed only in board shorts, t-shirt and thongs".

It was a big departure for Terzini who was best known for his signature dark intimate spaces like Caffe e Cucina and the bohemian Melbourne Wine Room. "All my other ventures have been very urban," he says. "They were high velocity whereas Icebergs is far more relaxed with a sophisticated homely feel. People can sit around and enjoy themselves for hours here. It’s all about the beach, about being on the water".

In Sydney over the past 10 – 15 years, there has been a distinct trend towards emphasizing light, space and view in restaurant interiors, evidence of the city beginning to discover its own spirit of place and relinquishing the tradition of dark indoor dining inherited from the UK. The use of colour is a departure for Lazzarini and Pickering whose European projects (recent projects include two villas at Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera, the revamped look of Fendi’s worldwide boutiques and one of the newest buildings in the historic center of Prague), are much more subdued.

 

Giving intimacy to the space was a challenge which was overcome by a number of elements – a curved screen of aluminium rods in the foyer which sway in the breeze like wind chimes lend a sensual feel; the C-shaped seating structures, evocative of crystallized waves or elongated sun-lounges, dilate the space and continue outside onto the terrace to decrease the separation between interior and exterior and also to structure and re-proportion the long balcony area.

As well, the dramatic natural landscape by day had to find its equivalent in an artificial landscape at night. Large chandeliers, with candle-like lamps which flicker at night, were custom-designed in circular and linear configurations as required for each particular space.

In the bar area (to the left of the foyer), a place to see and be seen, subtly stepped platform floors help break up the space as do the hanging wicker "egg" chairs which swing from the ceiling. To the right of the foyer are two dining areas which have different characters. Dining Room 2 at the southern end is more intimate and quiet, whilst Dining Room 1 with the C-shaped seating structures is designed for larger noisier tables. The acoustic ceiling had to ensure that the ambient character of each of these spaces would remain distinct and comfortable, even when the spaces were full.

The whole back wall of the restaurant which houses the kitchen and service areas is finished in dark hues to distinguish them from the restaurant spaces. The dark tones absorb light and minimize disruption of the restaurant atmosphere every time a door to or from a service area is opened and also prevent reflections in the large glass doors at night allowing a perfect view of the lit beach and pool across the sea to north Bondi.

The menu too is a reflection of the view – clean fresh and light with dishes like oysters natural; char-grilled octopus with cucumber, lemon and extra virgin olive oil; warm salad of Moreton Bay Bugs, shaved artichoke, peas, potatoes and labna; and char-grilled wild barramundi with vongole, white wine and faro.

Icebergs could very well become THE classic Sydney restaurant.

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