Sizzles At The Park Restaurant in Apeldoorn by Zware Jongens.

Self-described concept veterans, with – may I add – a flair for the dramatic, Zware Jongens have transformed a former ‘secret society club’ into a multi-faceted dining experience. Located in the quaint Dutch town of Apeldoorn, a little over an hour away from Amsterdam, Sizzles at the Park merges different ‘atmospheres’ into a single dining extravaganza.

Set within a lush garden the restaurant-come-relaxation destination cultivates a laid back atmosphere with the Dutch notion of ‘gezelligheid’ a feeling of social cosiness, conviviality and relaxation – a word sadly missing from the English language.

Drawing inspiration from the structure’s many grand windows, Zware Jongens created atmospheric divisions through table heights and positionings, deliberate seating areas, varied colour palettes, textured tapestries and curtains, rather than the hard separations of new walls.

The building’s unique historic features were retained and integrated into the design, subtly showcasing and embracing the building’s transition through original shapes, forms, and elements. Metal lines were added to the original windows highlighting their presence and repeated across different areas within the restaurant and its surroundings.

Related: Chinese Box Club Takeaway in Weert, The Netherlands by Zware Jongens.

Articulated around an alluring design concept of Sip, Dine & Chill, the restaurant follows the natural flow of any good dining experience. Patrons enter the interior through the relaxed Sip area, framed by the grand arched windows and with filtered light streaming in the area pairs soft textiles with low chaise lounges just waiting to sink into. Leading into the full culinary experience of Dine arched mirrors and screens mimic the original design features while curvaceous booths offer a more intimate division from the bordering bar. For those who venture further into the volume, crossing an almost unnoticeable door next to the kitchen, they will uncover Chill – a dark space framed by a cobbled floor, where the illusion of indoor and outdoor reaches its climax.

With mottled black and charcoal walls the dark and moody room frames the most eye-catching piece in the restaurant: a 9-meter-long custom multi-textured tapestry that runs from floor to and up the wall. A piece inspired by Japanese mountainscapes was designed by Zware Jongens and handmade by John McKerchar and his team in Scotland. This central element simultaneously signifies the consideration of bringing the outdoor surroundings of the park inside and provides an area to literally sit within the landscape that envelopes one from floor to ceiling. A perfect way to end the journey that is Sizzles at the Park.

Related: Zware Jongens’ Fresh Vision for Belgian Eyewear Specialist Hons.

[Images courtesy of Zware Jongens. Photography by Maarten Willemstein and Buro Bonito.]