Text description provided by the architects. Erth is an immersive dining experience of Emirati cuisine located at Qasr Al Hosn. He praises the modesty and generosity of ancient Emirati cultural practices. Emirati cooking processes played an important role in influencing the design direction of the space as it helped reinterpret the traditional restaurant typology into a style that fits the dynamic nature of Emirati cooking.
The approach was to create a space that celebrates cooking as presentation and the restaurant's eclectic take on traditional Emirati cooking. The kitchen is inserted into the space as a volume with pockets revealing the workings of the kitchen and framing moments of food preparation such as baking tandoori bread, cooking regag bread and preparing traditional Emirati coffee. More importantly, the volume features a gallery of essential spices and ingredients, and then the staples that make up a restaurant's menu.
The intention behind the dining area was to revisit the traditional majlis seating and reintroduce it in the context of elevated dining. The spaces are carved out of a raised floor to contain seating areas, creating an experience reminiscent of the old council seating style.
The seating strategy was also an exciting motivator as Aljoud Lootah, Khaled Shafar, Zulia, Toro and the Bahraini Dane collaborated with Boone to design the space's furnishing. Pieces from these regional designers have a playfulness that contrasts with the sharp, linear nature of the site. The eclectic choice enhanced the space's character through the use of woods, textured fabrics, and leather.
With an approach to linking the space to the origins of Emirati culture, the choice of materials celebrates what is natural and raw. Physical interference was kept to a minimum by preserving the original concrete structure of the site indoors.
The raised floor has been treated as a thick slab finished with the natural clay from which the seating spaces are carved. The galley volume is made of acid-washed steel and cut natural limestone; Further reinforce the rough approach to the composition of space. Softer elements such as texture and plants were used to increase the intimacy of the space by creating enclosed areas. To celebrate these elements working together, the lighting has been carefully curated to orchestrate ephemeral moments that allow users to experience design subtlety throughout the day and evening.