Case study 4: Maddox members’ club
To create a glamorous, feel-good space that was contemporary but not cold, and fashionable without being cutting edge – it was important that the concept would age well. Taking into account the flow and movement of guests in the space was also an importan
Maddox members’ club – 3-5 Mill Street, Mayfair, London W1
Client: Fred Moss
Design: Samy Chams at Prospect Design
Lighting: Gerard Giraudon
Main contractor: Alta Construction
The brief: To create a glamorous, feel-good space that was contemporary but not cold, and fashionable without being cutting edge – it was important that the concept would age well. Taking into account the flow and movement of guests in the space was also an important consideration.
Samy Chams says: ‘The club consists of two spaces – a restaurant and bar upstairs, and a club downstairs. We used oak and wenge wood and tiles, all quite hard-wearing, for the floors and we’ve given the space a glamorous feel by using black as the main colour and accenting it with the occasional injection of red. Red and black are not particularly fashionable at the moment, but they are both colours that are very long-lasting.
For a luxurious feel, all the chairs are upholstered in either crocodile leather or fur. In the restaurant, the bar is made of an Oberflex panelling that is a mix of wenge wood and polycarbonate Plexiglass. It looks like a piece of glass with big, wooden scratches, and we have backlit it for effect.
At the top of the staircase, on the same level as the restaurant, is a glass DJ booth. The club isn’t huge, so to make the most of the space we placed the DJ booth on the upper level. We used glass to give the perception that it is floating in space and to give diners in the restaurant an unimpeded view of the club. When the booth isn’t in use, it is interestingly lit and resembles a piece of art.
In a dark space like a club, lighting is particularly important and at Maddox, lighting comprises 30 to 40 per cent of the design. We have backlit pillars and backlit Plexiglass circular seating downstairs. There’s also a podium, above which hangs a Flos chandelier. There’s no need for much mechanical lighting because the architectural light gives the scene its atmosphere. It also means that the space looks good when it’s not in use.’
Specifier’s checklist:
• Lamellux, based in Brive, France
• Crocodile leather and fur seats: LD Difusions, France
• Chandelier: Flos, Italy
• Tiles: Carostyle, Spain
• Glass DJ booth: David Draier, UK
Project completed: April 2007
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