Giardino Restaurant & Bar

Client: Kursaal Bern AG
Bern 2023

Swissotel Kursaal Bern was built in the 1980s, having a breath-taking view of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of Bern. Our studio redesigned the Giardino Restaurant & Bar on the ground floor of the famous hotel. The main design features count a fully glazed winter garden, a monolithic stone bar, local natural materials, subtle structures, and numerous thoroughly arranged plants. In 2021, our offices already renovated the 163 rooms and the hotel lobby, completing the overall interior design of the hotel public spaces with the Giardino concept. The design concept combines two worlds. Nina creates a powerful connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, between spaces meant for introverted and communicative activities. Different needs and wishes of the restaurant and bar guests are met. The restaurant opens up to the garden areas, the fish pond, and the historical neighbourhood Altenberg.

The bar is located in the more introverted area of the space. The use of handmade tiles, grooved oak surfaces, and textiles in shades of green and blue creates a soothing atmosphere. The connecting element is the centrepiece, an 11-meter-long monolithic element made of Swiss stone called Spluga Verde. On the side facing the restaurant, the centrepiece houses cozy seating niches, while on the other side, it becomes the bar counter. Softly padded seating niches, alluding being carved from a large stone block, provide private nooks in the open space of the winter garden and create a sense of security. The excellent Mediterranean cuisine can be enjoyed either in the sunlit winter garden or in the elegantly designed bar. In line with the name Giardino, we incorporated a variety of plants to create a fantastic spatial atmosphere and bring the sensory garden experience indoors. "Through our biophilic design concept, we aim to provide guests with a sense of well-being, energy, and joy of life," says Nina Mair.