Neiman Marcus

This 4,800-square-foot restaurant and bar is located on the upper level of the Neiman Marcus store in San Antonio, Texas. The narrowness of the space configuration was challenging, and the program included a bar to be visible, but also set off from dining traffic. The plan utilized the narrowness to set a linear theme and a strongly sequenced perspective from one end to the other. Linearity, circular forms, and gridded elements were used in varying ways to result in a visual choreography throughout the space. In the same way music is composed with rhythms, sustained backgrounds, melodic lines, and accents, the space was developed as a visual composition with repetitive fins, playful ceiling discs, rhythmic grids, and color accents.

The bar flows from a semiprivate circular seating area used for greeting/waiting and as an extension of bar seating. A custom-designed linear pendant light fixture with 20 individual fabric lampshades extends the length of the bar and creates a warm glow effect.

An overall palette of light bleached ash, tan leather and vanilla-toned upholstery, cream-colored resin tabletops, warmly tinted concrete floors, and alabaster-toned lenses under eight five-foot-diameter ceiling-mounted light fixtures give the overall space a warm, soft, and open feeling. Strategically located accents of wine- and gold-colored Venetian plaster and custom-designed area rugs of chocolate, wine, and leaf green further the food-friendly and pleasant social atmosphere.