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Gekkō
By : Rockwell Group
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Restaurant > 1,600 sq.ft. (> 500 sq. m.) : Gold Certification
The Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny and restaurateur David Grutman are debuting this new Japanese steakhouse at the northwestern ground floor corner of the SLS Lux Brickell Tower.
The luxurious and contemporary restaurant borrows from iconic Japanese imagery for a modern feeling, with custom graphic wallcoverings and sculptures, jewel tones, natural wood, mirror, and bronze accents. Gekkō means “moonlight” in Japanese, and Rockwell Group was inspired to create moments of radiating luminosity against a darkened palette. A trellised terrace wraps around the exterior of restaurant, with both dining and lounge seating, creating new energy at the busy Brickell corner.
Guests enter the restaurant through a grand entry with a red awning and high-gloss red lacquer doors. Inside, a feature bar surrounded by lounge seating is a bustling meeting point and a spot to see and be seen. The dark, moody monotone space has pops of rich color. The walls of the entry bar are clad in metal mesh and lacquered green panels, which complement the metal-paneled and stone bar die. Vertical light channels behind the bar create a reflection on the textured plaster soffit, creating drama. A custom dragon mural designed by Candice Kaye in collaboration with Rockwell Group animates the back bar and sets the tone for the restaurant. Teal velvet drapery throughout the restaurant helps to baffle sound as well as conceal and reveal entrances and transitions. Leather and wood lounge chairs have sleek Japanese-inspired detailing.
The focal point of the main dining room is the sushi bar. A custom undulating gold and red dip-dyed rope installation by Chelsea Plumb floats over the bar and creates a sculptural chandelier effect. It also acts as a frame for a curled bronze dragon sculpture that sits in a glowing round niche (referencing the restaurant’s name) at the back wall. The sushi bar is surrounded by pixelated green tilework, beautiful walnut millwork walnut panels, and velvet panels. Bronze and mirror-clad columns create high contrast. A PDR seats 14 and has a custom wallcovering by Candice Kaye in collaboration with Rockwell Group and ornate paper lantern light fixtures. Velvet drapery, rather than doors, conceals the PDR while still allowing guests to feel part of the communal experience.
This cavernous space, marked by monumental columns clad in mirror with metal trim and wood panels, immerses guests in the world of a geisha in the moonlight, who beckons from a custom wallcovering by Candice Kaye in collaboration with Rockwell Group (fabric on acoustic panels). The fantastical and whimsical graphic moment takes over the whole room. Multicolored pendants respond to sound and movement, adding a layer of dynamic content. A green marble bar sits in front of a fluted mirror liquor display. The lounge opens at 4 p.m. for Happy Hour and then transforms into a speakeasy and nightclub after hours.
Collaboration
