Washington, DC-based architecture and design studio Drummond Projects has unveiled Bronze, a new three-story restaurant in the H Street Corridor. The interior design of the space is based on an Afrofuturistic sci-fi tale about a character named Alonzo Bronze that was dreamt up by Bronze founder Keem Hughley.
“It is unprecedented to design with this theme of Afrofuturism in a constructed environment,” says Drummond Projects founder and principal architect Jimmie Drummond. “One of our designers, who is from Malawi, led our research effort, which aimed to reclaim the African diaspora and the journey of Alonzo Bronze through experiences and feelings of wonder. We crafted a fascinating folk tale for Bronze that guided our design decisions for sculptural forms we created, lighting direction, and materiality that makes guests a part of Alonzo Bronze journey through different wonders through time.”
Afro motifs are translated into custom millwork as well as abstract forms. Lighting is the most paramount aspect of the project, artfully employed to shape a different experience on each of Bronze’s levels. Dubbed Pre-Earth, the ground floor is a low-lit and atmospheric counterpoint to Earth on the second floor, which is distinguished by greenery and ample natural light. The third level, the Crane Room, comprises a cocktail bar lined with crane-patterned wallpaper and penetrated with a large round cutout observing the Earth below.
“I don’t think of Bronze as a restaurant. I think it’s a collectively designed culinary and spatial experience. I think it’s a thought-provoking story that inspires our families to converse about food and design differently,” Drummond adds. “As a Black architect, it was most liberating for me and my team of all Black designers and architects to pull on our unique perspectives, expectations, education, and creativity to design and build an unprecedented project.”
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