Bentley Bar & Restaurant, Sydney

The acclaimed Bentley Bar + Restaurant is located on a street frontage within a grand historic building, nestled in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, and their 4th restaurant I have collaborated on with PGMD.

Being an historic building, a large portion of the ceiling and walls weren’t able to be penetrable, so lighting, and the interior, had to be addressed in non-traditional ways.

The result is an incredible fusion of both the lighting design and the interior design. A wonderful custom scaffold structure was created as an integral element of the interior architecture. This became the stage from which the lighting is integrated. Bespoke coloured glass pendants dangle randomly from the organised chaos of black scaffolding, as it weaves in and out and around the vast restaurant with soaring ceilings, multiple levels and various areas dining areas. The pendants bring light to the dining areas, and vistas of glowing crystal droplets are visible throughout the venue.

The lighting and scaffold have become one, united as an integral entity to the over-all interior design of the venue. Its presence is undoubtedly identifiable to The Bentley Bar.

Additional lighting is integrated in to the bar shelving systems, some general lighting at the stairs, a grand brass pendant at the exterior entrance, and wall lights of brass branch out from joinery. These all blend seamlessly against the timber and metal finishes, adding warmth and glow to the bar area.

Architect: PGMD
Client:  Brent Savage & Nick Hildebrandt
Photographer: Paul McMahon