Latest news with #ChrisLucas
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Parisienne-style restaurant served with a twist: red paint running down naked bodies
Top restaurateur Chris Lucas and his wife Sarah wanted a Parisienne-style feel in their new four-level Melbourne dining house Maison Batard. The pair gave Mills Gorman Architects and interior designers Mitchell & Eades a functional brief – make three different restaurants and a nightclub in the basement of a building in Bourke Street using design cues from the Lucas' trips to Paris. 'These cues came from a variety of places, from high-end hotels to boutiques, including boutiques such as Balmain and Chanel,' says architect and interior designer, Hayley Mitchell, co-director of Mitchell & Eades, who spent her earlier career based in London and regularly travelled to Paris. 'It wasn't about just reproducing a Parisienne experience, but importantly, creating a certain ambience that would connect to patrons here,' adds Mitchell, who worked closely with interior designer Stef Marsh, an associate of the practice. Maison Batard is thoughtfully concealed behind a fully restored heritage-listed Romanesque Revival facade at 23 Bourke Street that was designed by architect William Salway in 1901 and once housed the former Society restaurant, which opened there in 1932. 'It's been an eight-year project, including working with the heritage facade, a heritage-listed chimney and also creating an entirely new basement,' says architect Craig Gorman, who was mindful from the outset that any addition didn't 'overwhelm the host building' (a phrase used by council and those working in the heritage field). A steel-clad top level enclosing the venue's more informal terrace is only visible from nearby Windsor Place. Beyond the reeded glass windows and steel front door, patrons are immersed immediately in the world of Maison Batard – with travertine floors and aged mirrors on the walls, created by Outlines. The mirrors are aged and rusticated with miniature brass flowers at each corner. There's a high level of detail at every turn including over-scaled lanterns, deep velvet banquette-style seating and armchairs, and a coffered ceiling.
The Age
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Parisienne-style restaurant served with a twist: red paint running down naked bodies
Top restaurateur Chris Lucas and his wife Sarah wanted a Parisienne-style feel in their new four-level Melbourne dining house Maison Batard. The pair gave Mills Gorman Architects and interior designers Mitchell & Eades a functional brief – make three different restaurants and a nightclub in the basement of a building in Bourke Street using design cues from the Lucas' trips to Paris. 'These cues came from a variety of places, from high-end hotels to boutiques, including boutiques such as Balmain and Chanel,' says architect and interior designer, Hayley Mitchell, co-director of Mitchell & Eades, who spent her earlier career based in London and regularly travelled to Paris. 'It wasn't about just reproducing a Parisienne experience, but importantly, creating a certain ambience that would connect to patrons here,' adds Mitchell, who worked closely with interior designer Stef Marsh, an associate of the practice. Maison Batard is thoughtfully concealed behind a fully restored heritage-listed Romanesque Revival facade at 23 Bourke Street that was designed by architect William Salway in 1901 and once housed the former Society restaurant, which opened there in 1932. 'It's been an eight-year project, including working with the heritage facade, a heritage-listed chimney and also creating an entirely new basement,' says architect Craig Gorman, who was mindful from the outset that any addition didn't 'overwhelm the host building' (a phrase used by council and those working in the heritage field). A steel-clad top level enclosing the venue's more informal terrace is only visible from nearby Windsor Place. Beyond the reeded glass windows and steel front door, patrons are immersed immediately in the world of Maison Batard – with travertine floors and aged mirrors on the walls, created by Outlines. The mirrors are aged and rusticated with miniature brass flowers at each corner. There's a high level of detail at every turn including over-scaled lanterns, deep velvet banquette-style seating and armchairs, and a coffered ceiling.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The CBD's future is car-free and open all hours, say these big thinkers
An underground network for moving goods and waste on conveyor belts, transforming empty shops into free spaces for artists and a car-free Hoddle Grid are among the 50 big ideas to emerge from a major summit discussing what Melbourne might look like in 2050. Business and community leaders – including Governor Margaret Gardner, Lucas Group Restaurants owner Chris Lucas, comedy festival director Susan Provan, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief Natalie O'Brien – were among about 700 people who converged on Melbourne Town Hall on Friday for the M2050 forum. Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he wanted to focus on Melbourne in 25 years' time, as great cities were not built overnight, they were built over generations. 'In Melbourne, we find ourselves at a historic juncture,' he said. 'A few years back, we had a once-in-a-century crisis, but we are a city that does come back well. In fact, I think we do that better than any city in the world.' The event, run by City of Melbourne, began with speeches from Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who went back-to-back with pointed early election pitches. Loading Participants young and old shared their ideas in break-out groups focusing on topics including infrastructure, culture, climate, the economy and liveability. After a full day of robust discussions – as well as some disagreement and confusion – a list of 50 big ideas for 2050 was compiled for the City of Melbourne to take on or advocate for. Participants were eager to see a ban on private cars in the CBD, excluding emergency, delivery and disability transport vehicles.
The Age
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The CBD's future is car-free and open all hours, say these big thinkers
An underground network for moving goods and waste on conveyor belts, transforming empty shops into free spaces for artists and a car-free Hoddle Grid are among the 50 big ideas to emerge from a major summit discussing what Melbourne might look like in 2050. Business and community leaders – including Governor Margaret Gardner, Lucas Group Restaurants owner Chris Lucas, comedy festival director Susan Provan, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief Natalie O'Brien – were among about 700 people who converged on Melbourne Town Hall on Friday for the M2050 forum. Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he wanted to focus on Melbourne in 25 years' time, as great cities were not built overnight, they were built over generations. 'In Melbourne, we find ourselves at a historic juncture,' he said. 'A few years back, we had a once-in-a-century crisis, but we are a city that does come back well. In fact, I think we do that better than any city in the world.' The event, run by City of Melbourne, began with speeches from Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who went back-to-back with pointed early election pitches. Loading Participants young and old shared their ideas in break-out groups focusing on topics including infrastructure, culture, climate, the economy and liveability. After a full day of robust discussions – as well as some disagreement and confusion – a list of 50 big ideas for 2050 was compiled for the City of Melbourne to take on or advocate for. Participants were eager to see a ban on private cars in the CBD, excluding emergency, delivery and disability transport vehicles.
