Attica

A regular in the World’s Best 50 restaurants list, with a focus on indigenous and locally sourced ingredients, Attica now has an interior to match its stunning food and international renown.

Two modern chairs in a dimly lit room from Attica.

Dimly lit dining area with a set table in the Attica theme.

Attica features a ceramic egg with creamy filling nestled in a bed of grass.

Ben Shewry is unique among chefs and restaurateurs for the inventive way he uses food to tell stories, often intimately linked to the landscapes from which his ingredients are sourced. We took a similar approach to designing his restaurant’s new interior, telling a story about the cycle of bushfire and regeneration in the Australian landscape.

2017
Ripponlea, Boonwurrung Land

Patrons

65pax

Floor Area

100m²

A dark but highly nuanced material palette evokes the charred remnants of fire-ravaged bushland and sets the scene for the restaurant’s food to take centre stage.

Dry woodland landscape with scattered smoke and sparse trees from the Attica project.

After the devastation of bushfire, the green shoots of regeneration quickly appear. At Attica, this is represented by the vibrant colours delivered on the plate. Soft downlights over each table focus the diners’ attention, with the food and the interior together telling a story.

Close-up of charred plant with opened seed pods from the Attica series.

Green plants growing from a charred tree stump in Attica forest regeneration scene.

Close-up of a blooming eucalyptus flower from the Attica series.

In the main dining room, tabletops crafted from Castlemaine granite are speckled grey and white like a bed of ash on a forest floor. Light from outside is filtered by dark grey curtains shot through with copper thread, creating a smoky effect with hints of red.The burnt landscape is given its most explicit representation in a private dining room, where the walls are clad in charred timber. The floor throughout is textural black carpet

Modern dining room interior with elegant tables and chairs from the Attica series.

Elegant dining room interior from Attica featuring neatly set tables and a wine display cabinet.

Dimly lit modern dining area with black tables and chairs from Attica project.

Modern bar interior with rustic wooden counter and glassware shelves from Attica.

Signs of renewal are evident too. Slabs of raw timber cut from reclaimed trees. Baskets handwoven from native grass cradling healing bunya bunya seeds. Evocative photographs showing trees regenerating after fire bring balance to the black and grey tones, and confirm that the story here isn’t about destruction, it’s about the cycles of nature.

Modern shelving with ceramic dishes in a minimalist dining space for the Attica project.

Elegant dining area with white tablecloths and a well-stocked bar in the Attica series.

Dark tones, subtle textural contrasts and carefully considered lighting design combine to create an ambience of hushed reverence, for the Australian landscape and for the world-class dining experience.

Elegant black chair and round table with notebook from Attica project.

Bar shelf with bottles and glasses in the Attica series.

Our work here marks the first major redesign for Attica since it rose to global prominence. The restaurant’s interior now delivers an experience for diners commensurate with their very high expectations, while also respecting the integrity of Ben Shewry’s singular vision.