Splendid Eclectic Restaurant nested in a Chapel in Antwerp

The “fine dining meets rock ‘n’ roll” restaurant is а creation of two star-chefs Sergio Herman and Nick Bril. To become their vision a reality, they work over three years ago with Piet Boon. For restaurant location is chosen mythical Antwerp and the place was a chapel of a former military hospital. For the unique transformation into luxurious restaurant where the experience is the main key, we can blame Piet Boon Studio.

The design accent is on the functionality, authenticity, and “age beautifully” materials and only the highly necessary stuff was restored, to remain the individuality of the chapel. For the ultimate fine dining experience, take care the original ceiling and altar. The ceiling conveys one pure and respectful environment and the altar show one different vision of the kitchen, which look like a modern shrine, embraced by glass. The quests become witnesses of everything that is created in the kitchen.

From the end result we cannot stay uninvolved to the shared passion of Herman, Bril and Boon. We can see that they like to work with pure, rich materials as outstanding natural stone, leather, and oak wood, which are expressed in the interior. Thanks to Piet Boon Studio and her partners, we can have an overall experience in this “fine dining meets rock ‘n’ roll” restaurant.

The windows are consisted of 500 unique panels and are designed by Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel from Studio Job. Inspired by the chapel’s original look, they wanted to add something from the present world (sunflowers, devils, babies, apple cores etc.) to portray the contemporary translation of the old stained-glass windows. Every piece of the archetypes tell a different story of rich and poor, life and death, good and bad and of course of good food and religion.

Designed by the Beirut-based design studio PSLAB, undoubtedly the “piece de résistance” in the center of the restaurant is the gigantic chandelier which weight is 800 kilos and height of 12 by 9 meters with over 150 lights. The chandelier definitely contributes to the intimacy and divinity of the chapel interior. This is no coincidence, as the team is specialized in creation of contemporary lightning, which is specific to the site. Here the lightning plan lay on the accent on unique elements of both the chapel and the interior. Its main purpose is to create a scenic atmosphere where artistry and engineering make the sweet reunion.