Once bustling with the sound of machinery, the site of a historic local ironworks and machine shop in Memphis, Tennessee has transformed into Amelia Gene’s, a fine-dining establishment that honors the city’s rich industrial heritage.
Turning an old machine shop into Amelia Gene’s
Tasked with repurposing the city’s oldest operating foundry, the Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry worked in collaboration with Carlisle Restaurant Group to create an elevated dining concept centered around a dramatic focal point—a custom chandelier made of warm amber glass and dark textured stone that suspends in the main dining room. A polished copper canopy sits directly above the lighting fixture, casting a warm glow below.
“Inspiration for this project was plentiful, between the history of the site and the desire of Carlisle Restaurant Group to bring a luxury, chef-driven restaurant to Memphis,” says Anita Summers, principal of the Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry. “We focused our strategy on the craft of both the blacksmith and the chef, highlighting the similarities between the artistry of their trades, bringing in elements reminiscent of burning embers.”
The design of Amelia Gene’s
The preserved shell of the building was intentionally left raw and industrial, exposing concrete walls and rough brick.
The dining room gives way to a large expo kitchen, highlighting a live-fire grill and original machinery kept throughout the space. An oversized copper hood serves as the awning to the kitchen with a large wine wall directly adjacent.
From the street, the expansive bar can be seen through the windows, drawing passersby in with a charred wood, copper, and blackened steel structure that illuminates the glowing bottles. The shelves on the back bar extend to the ceiling of the double-height space and are juxtaposed by a radiant ivory onyx bar top. Tall windows, kept from the original construction, flank either side of the bar.
Plush furniture, velvet drapery, and moody lighting round out the space, creating a warm, inviting environment.
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