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Gildas by Atoma Architecture & Design
A feminine counterpoint to its masculine sibling restaurant Firedoor, Gilda’s wine bar by Atoma channels old-Hollywood elegance while drawing inspiration from Spain’s lively Basque region.
A guindilla pepper, an anchovy and a green olive speared on a toothpick: these are the components of the gilda, a beloved pintxo (small bar snack) hailing from Spain’s Basque region named for Rita Hayworth’s bold and beautiful character in the 1946 film Gilda. The snack and the actor both influenced Atoma Architecture & Design’s approach to Gildas, an enchanting wine bar in Sydney’s Surry Hills led by chef Lennox Hastie, who has gained international accolades for his flame-fuelled restaurant Firedoor, just across the road.
Gildas is the feminine counterweight to Firedoor’s stark masculinity. Parallels are drawn between the two via the use of timbers, but Hastie worked closely with Atoma to develop a distinctive concept riffing off the shape and colours of the gilda, which appears on the menu in multiple guises. The gilda’s palette is mirrored in multiple shades of green that envelop the space and imbue it with a nostalgic elegance, while metallic accents heighten the luxury factor.
The room is creatively broken down into intimate zones – banquettes, a central waiter station, a counter dining space and a handsome curved bar. Those curves are a constant throughout the space: curved timber Adam Goodrum chairs are accentuated by the rounded edges of the banquettes, which are crowned with an undulating folded brass ribbon that doubles as the waiters’ station. This theme continues in the dramatic arc windows washing the room with light during the day and filtering in the street scene as night falls. Banquette seating is aligned towards these windows, which also offer an eyeline towards Firedoor.
Easy movement through the space was hard-won: it’s framed by five external walls sitting at odd angles, necessitating clever design and thoughtful planning.
Easy movement through the space was hard-won: it’s framed by five external walls sitting at odd angles, necessitating clever design and thoughtful planning to make the room workable. Atoma formulated specific pathways to facilitate circulation through the room. Convivial drinking and dining was also front of mind. The bar’s dramatic quartzite top sits at a domestic height to encourage amiable conversation and eating, while the delicate rounded edges found throughout help foster the sense of comfort.
Few artworks punctuate the walls, with one dramatic exception: a monumental, custom-crafted polymer piece by Tan Aldridge hovering above a banquette, its fluidity reasserting the meandering lines of the space. The white piece, backed by a whitewashed wall, is an understated eye-catcher that doesn’t demand attention, yet gradually draws the diner in. An ethos that could sum up Gildas itself.
Interior design by Atoma Architecture and Design.
