Located at the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Hakkasan Bodrum is inspired by the breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea dotted with the dramatic masts and billowing sails of Bodrum’s famous Gulets. These impressive yachts are a staple of any Bodrum scene and the design of Hakkasan subtly references materials and details that are characteristic of these spectacular vessels such as wood decking, rope-made features and nautical fabrics. This hint of Bodrum is accompanied by Hakkasan’s modern Chinese aesthetic creating a duality that provides local context at the same time as delivering a memorable Asian culinary experience.
A simple yet elegant Calcutta marble welcome desk greets guests upon arrival at Hakkasan Bodrum. The desk is located in front of a feature branded Hakkasan wall that displays a large-scale Hakkasan logo—very clearly indicating arrival at the culinary destination. This unique design element also provides local context through the application of nautical materials such as rope and wood that are reminiscent of the famous Turkish Gulets.
“The coastal setting combined with Hakkasan’s signature aesthetic were the main drivers behind the design inspiration,” said Project Director, Associate Mike Lawless of Campbell House. “The breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and the coastal hills surrounding the bay are a big draw for this destination. We wanted to take subtle references from these through material choices that reference seafaring and coastal life (rope, sun-washed woods, teal fabrics, etc.). The Turkish Gulets helped with this inspiration. Hakkasan’s signature cages were also used throughout the space to ensure that the brand identity was clear and present; however, we were careful to strategically situate and in places limit this caging to allow for uninterrupted views of the Aegean Sea.”
Guests are then led onto the main deck of the restaurant platform. To the left is the central island bar that features backlit blue glass with a brass trim shaped into a signature Hakkasan pattern which becomes reminiscent of the Chinese traditions and the world-known Hakkasan style. Hanging above the bar is a series of Chinese-inspired contemporary pendants. These pendants are affixed to a wooden pergola overhead that fits perfectly in the marina-like timber decked platforms where the restaurant is laid out. The end of each beam on the pergola terminates with a brass Hakkasan logo that reinforces the strong brand aesthetic throughout the venue. Furthermore, a series of Hakkasan signature patterned screens subdivide the various areas throughout the space. These screens are mostly constructed from timber, but for a few exceptions in the bar area which are intended to be special screens that are fashioned from rope once again referencing the coastal surroundings.
Walking away from the bar while remaining on the main deck of the venue, guests arrive at the lounge area which is complete with plush sofas, a DJ booth and sweeping views of the Aegean Sea. A couple of steps down from the lounge seating is the lower dining area. Two U-shaped banquettes upholstered with locally inspired fabrics and a series of loose dining tables frame the views out towards the ocean ensuring every seat is desirable.
“Ultimately, [our projects] all have very different uses, and our designs are about creating the right feeling and energy that is appropriate for that use,” Lawless said. “Hakkasan wants their guests to feel energized and engaged with the concept in a way that generates a distinct atmosphere that has become a signature of the brand. In this location, it was achieved through crafting a dramatic space that tastefully frames the sweeping vistas and combines with a solid music program to create a guest experience that is at once unmistakably Hakkasan while also remaining uniquely rooted in Bodrum. It is an entirely different task to design a guestroom as the use is completely different. Guests are much more likely to want a peaceful refuge in their hotel room as opposed to a party-like atmosphere.”
Back towards the entry area, a separate dining platform is located a few steps down from the main deck. This dining platform has a set of three private dining tables that each sit within their own private cabana for an intimate group dining experience. The private dining cabanas are raised above the rest of the dining platform to ensure guests in those cabanas have views out over the Aegean. The central dining area on the dining platform is framed by two long banquettes surrounded by Hakkasan signature screens and protected by pergolas overhead. Down two more steps from this central area are a series of loose dining tables that follow the perimeter of the deck. Situated at the edge of the deck, these tables have uninterrupted views of the ocean.
All the fabrics used at the dining and lounge seating are inspired by Turkey’s rich textile heritage in order to provide local context while still maintaining the Hakkasan aesthetic.
“Twelve-eighteen months ago, there was a knee-jerk reaction to the pandemic to create design solutions that would somehow overcome the pandemic,” Lawless said. “While design can certainly help to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, it was never the only answer. There was a risk to designing restaurants to be ‘as safe as possible’ that will leave them feeling very dated within a short space of time. The way to avoid this situation is through flexibility. We must remain flexible with the needs of our clients and partners—collaborating with them to ensure their needs are being met. But also, we must design in a way that allows for some degree of flexibility given how quickly circumstances can change.”
