< PreviousCLOCKWISE: Jaunty brollies on the terrace; the main dining area; ceviche; a fi reside seating area; chocolate fondant; bespoke tiles in the sushi bar. OPPOSITE PAGE: The private dining room. AD_190-193_Escape_Gourmet Amazonico_11077086.indd 19210/12/2019 06:10:05 AMESCA P E /G o u rm e t 193 ith its soaring glass-and-metal towers, Dubai International Financial District is a high-octane urban jungle, and now it has an indoor rainforest, too. Amazonico, the city’s hottest new restaurant, has sprung up in a prime three-storey location at Gate Village Pavilion, capped with a roof terrace. What awaits inside couldn’t be more diff erent to the skyline views. Immediately on entering, patrons are greeted by a profusion of artfully arranged plants, colourful blooms and baskets of exotic fruits. It’s the fi rst glimpse of a lush, tropical fantasia that has been brought to life by the Spanish interior designer Lá zaro Rosa-Violan. “The goal was to hide this big square structure using natural textures and make something very organic and inviting,” he explains as we tour the verdant venue. “The idea is that it’s a journey along the banks of the Amazon. The palette moves from earthy terracotta to the greens of the jungle.” A rainforest-themed interior has the potential to veer into theme-park kitsch very easily, but under Rosa-Violan’s stewardship it manages to be both riotously fun (think swathes of foliage suspended from the ceilings) and fabulously stylish (emerald velvet tub chairs paired with fringed ombre pendants). It’s no mean feat, but the award-winning designer has worked on projects in over 40 countries for the likes of Mondrian Hotels and Soho House, and also decorated the original, wildly successful Amazonico in Madrid. Launched in 2016, it is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team, Chef Sandro Silvia and Marta Seco, the founders of Spain’s largest restaurant group. Their venues range from casual to fi ne dining, but each shares the same escapist impulse – to ‘create a microcosm of happiness’ – which has proved a winning formula. Now with more than 700 employees, the Seco’s partnered with Dogus Group (owners of Zuma, Nusr Et and Coya) to expand globally, starting with the opening of Amazonico in Dubai and London. “Sandro and Marta really are the king and queen of nightlife in Madrid,” says Rosa- Violan. “He was born in Brazil and is very proud of the culture. Amazonico focuses on the joy of life, and the design refl ects that.” Much like a forest canopy, the richly- layered decor is a fi nely-tuned eco-system with lots of diff erent styles living in harmony. A remarkable spiral staircase, which spins up from the ground fl oor sushi bar and lounge w to the main dining room, is a case in point. The framework is covered with 3D bamboo- motif tiles on the outside and mirrored tiles inside, which refl ect the deep-pile mossy carpet underfoot. It’s makes for an unforgettable journey to your table. The vibrant food has a Brazilian heart with references to Asian, South America and Spanish cuisine. Signature dishes include black hake with grilled aubergine, caipira- style chicken, and a steak selection to satisfy event the most ardent carnivores. It’s all deliciously done and theatrically served, adding to the sense of occasion in a dining room that makes for brilliant people- watching. From the off , Amazonico has attracted a diverse, upscale crowd that is bound to return to soak up the atmosphere – diners can move up to the rooftop after dinner and sip cocktails to a feel-good soundtrack. Rosa-Violan played a part in ensuring that everything is perfectly calibrated and aims to create ambiances rather than spaces. “The challenge is to create an experience for the client,” he says, “If everything is in harmony – the taste of the food, the scent of the air, the sound of footsteps on the ground– you get a positive feeling” Mission accomplished. reservations@amazonico.ae AD_190-193_Escape_Gourmet Amazonico_11077086.indd 19310/12/2019 06:10:27 AM194 LA S T W O RD WHILE RESTORATION EFFORTS OFTEN INTEND TO PRESERVE or recreate a structure’s original architecture and condition, Iranian architect Mohammad Hassan Forouzanfar has taken an experimental look at what restoration could mean. His Retrofuturism series superimposes images of contemporary architecture that echo the design language of famous architects, such as Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Norman Foster, onto ancient sites in Iran including Kashan’s Sialk Hills and the Palace of Ardashir in Fars. Combining materials, styles and eras of contemporary architecture, Forouzanfar’s artworks inject glass and metal forms into seemingly contradictory contexts, allowing them to jut from historic stone buildings and pierce the rocky landscape. The striking imagery begs the questions: what are the limits of architectural restoration, and can it be approached through a new lens? @mh_Forouzanfar Back to the Future AD_194_Last word_11057328.indd 19410/12/2019 06:11:18 AMAn Najmah, Ar Raid 7754 #2, 3011-12355 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | @a_interiors | info@ainteriors.com www.ainteriors.com Untitled-3 128/11/2019 05:28:32 PMNext >