A strong design narrative is a staple of any successful project. Crafting a compelling story is the first step in making that story come alive. Just ask Blue Sky Hospitality’s Henry Chebaane. For the JW Marriott Absheron Baku, Azerbaijan’s new bar, Razzmatazz, the narrative was a blend of a decadent Jazz Age tale of two London adventurers who found their way to Baku in the 1920’s and the way Oriental rugs have been used there to tell a story for centuries.
Chebaane used those inspirations and much more to create a fantasy-like exotic world that feels like taking a ride inside a magical rug. A motif that melds a Persian flower and an Azeri pomegranate takes over the floors, walls and ceiling, glowing from purple- and red-tinted lighting. A dramatic polished stainless steel sculptural bar and curving chairs in luxury metallic leathers provide a modern take on the underground glamour of a speakeasy.
Projects like this go to show that there is no too far outside the box when it comes to concepts, even in branded properties. They keys to making something this dramatic come off as polished are in the execution. Sticking to a limited palette lets the high-voltage design statement shine through without becoming overwhelming.
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