The client’s brief was simple: “I want to take people on an African Safari in the middle of Sydney’s CBD.” Our answer was a reimagined African village within the foothills of a contemporary glass tower in the middle of a bustling metropolitan city. Architecture within architecture.
Global Design & Architecture Design Awards 2024
First Award | Hospitality (Built)
Project Name:Meat & Wine Safari
Category: Hospitality (Built)
Studio Name: COOOP
This project blends traditional African design elements and finishes in a very contemporary architectural aesthetic, creating an immersive dining experience through the creation of a transcendent village within a city.
Reimagined Boma Concept
A distinctive feature of the restaurant is its reimagined Boma concept. A Boma, traditionally used as a livestock or community enclosure in Africa, is associated with safety and decision-making. Inspired by African traditions, it’s integrated with modern Australian aesthetics. The Boma units, influenced by Zulu circular kraals, feature heated booth seating that faces a central fireplace and acacia trees. This encourages interaction, balancing intimacy with community. Reflecting Zulu communal spaces, the setup fosters an inviting atmosphere for connection.
Symbolism and Functionality of the Fireplace
In African cultures, the fireplace is a sacred space for storytelling and wisdom-sharing. For example, in Ashanti culture, the hearth is central to family values. In the restaurant, the fireplace acts as a social and emotional anchor, providing warmth and encouraging meaningful conversation. This Afro-centric focal point enhances the restaurant’s identity, blending tradition with modern hospitality for a rich sensory experience.
Natural Materials and Immersive Elements
Natural materials such as straw and hay evoke traditional African craftsmanship, grounding the design with a sustainable, earthy aesthetic. The five custom-built acacia trees, with integrated lighting and speakers that play African safari sounds, symbolize strength and endurance. These trees bridge nature with cultural heritage, creating a welcoming, immersive experience that deeply connects to African roots.
Significance of the Trees
In African culture, the shade of a tree represents a place of knowledge, spiritual sacrifices, and community decisions. In this design, traditional acacia trees, common in the African savannah, were chosen. Based on the “Savannah Hypothesis,” which suggests people prefer savannah landscapes, these trees enhance the visual and emotional appeal of the space.
Overall Experience
This design exemplifies that hospitality is about engaging emotions and senses, not just visual appeal. The philosophy of “form follows feeling” guides every design decision, ensuring that guests connect with the space on a deeper level. At The Meat & Wine Co. Safari, each visit becomes a journey through taste, culture, and design, where tradition meets modernity.
Unique Design Features
The entire village is framed within a 17m high steel mesh curtain separating the “inside from the “outside” in a very gentle, almost invisible shroud. The restaurant’s unique design combines functionality with sensory engagement. Heated booth seating within the 4,5m high Bomas (pods) keeps diners comfortable, while a cut-out in the front of the dining table allows staff to step into the table to greet guests and serve them individually. This recess design element framed with a brass edge that stand proud of the table surface, also prevents utensils from falling and enhances social interaction. Decorated clay walls, reinterpreted as soft, upholstered surfaces, add a tactile surprise, while the scent of petrichor and sounds of African poetry in the walkway sweeping up to the entrance creates a multi-sensory greeting for visitors.
