The Barlance Restaurant, Abuja, Nigeria

Architect : DHK Designs
Project Type : Hospitality

The Barlance Restaurant

Working alongside Rumis Altt on the project Barlance, we envisioned a cocktail-themed recreational centre that offers a diverse array of experiences, from commercial immersion rooms to a beach house-themed restaurant. With the goal to create a relaxation destination that sets a new standard for the city, Abuja, and to achieve this we carefully crafted distinct experiences throughout the different sections. Inspired by the elements of the Abuja urban lifestyle, we incorporated artistic and functional elements to give a range of ambience and aesthetics, where guests can unwind and indulge in the sensory pleasures of expertly crafted structures; which includes the cocktail walkway, the inviting lounge, beach house/pool area, train carriage and many more

Welcoming you into Barlance is the cocktail illusion walkway, well structured and buried into the white stone grounds that glows beautifully at night and is brightly coloured during the day, to give the environment a fun feeling. And moving further you would find a seating arrangement in form of a bottle (called the bottle shelter) that brings the purpose of the restaurant to life in a creative way.

Not to leave out the very creative bicycle bench, that is right beside the bottle shelter, with the use of recycled condemned bicycle & wheels we were able to create a spot where guests come in to sit and admire the creative use of such furniture. As we move farther into the compound is the beach house setting, where you would find; relaxing cabanas with exquisite chandeliers in it and the alluring raffia beach chairs & complimenting umbrellas to keep the sun away, yet give you a Miami sensation.

However, the most bespoke design on this project has to be the neon coloured train, which was another recycled waste component that was put to good use. With the functionality to serve as a cocktail immersion for it’s guests, we made sure to give the train a purpose and transform it to a whimsical room.

The use of bespoke pieces and elements combined with intentionality were put together to enhance the overall ambience and create a functional space for project Barlance.