Divinatio

Utrecht, Netherlands

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Divinatio

Utrecht, Netherlands

Firm

Liong Lie Architects

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Restaurant

YEAR

2008

Fish restaurant Divinatio is located at the historical
harbour of Utrecht, The Netherlands. The objective was to
realize a restaurant with a maritime feel for the upper segment of the market. The
building is designed to be functional. The contrasts – rough on the outside and
smooth on the inside – have been translated in the design. The interior has to
appeal to a broad and contemporary group, without discouraging the more
traditional public. The visibility lines create oversight and views and the niches
create a feeling of intimacy. When choosing the materials, Liong Lie (the
architect) took both the visual as tangible effects into account. Leather, blue
glass and Corian® have been used in the design. The open kitchen is framed in
white Corian® and has a dark back wall which creates the illusion of cooks
standing in a theatre. The walls have been covered with an acoustic clay plaster
that has a mother of pearl effect which shimmers in the sunlight. The ceiling
is made out of tufted leather panels to improve the acoustics. The chandelier
appears to be rotating by the computerized lighting that increases and
decreases in strength. A reference to a light house. At night the curiosity of
the passerby is raised by the big illuminated glass bay window.