The Riyadh branch is Villa Mamas’ fourth location and is by far the largest and grandest of them all. Located in the prestigious Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, it seats up to 200 people at one time and spans across multiple floors with two outdoor terraces.
The fit-out firm was retained to complete a full restaurant fit-out, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing works (MEP). There is stunning and complex detail everywhere at Villa Mama’s Riyadh, from the elaborate beading on the wooden doors to the ornate marble water fountain. All joinery, including the rural pergolas for both outdoor terraces were built and transported from Havelock One’s factory in Askar, Bahrain. In order to complement Villa Mama’s authentic style, rustic terracotta floor tiles were sourced directly from Italy and handmade ceramic tiles sourced from Turkey.
“Partnering with Villa Mamas on the fit-out of their fourth restaurant allowed us to showcase the level of intricate detail we can achieve through our custom manufacturing capabilities. No detail was too small on this project and the overall result is a wonderful home away from home to enjoy the delights of modern Middle Eastern cuisine,” says Nigel Wilson, divisional director at Havelock One.
Havelock One supplied and installed an incredible mirrored wall and ceiling in the bar area, which laid the perfect base for the intricate glass pomegranate feature. The design was created by Kolektiv Ateliers, a boutique company that offers bespoke luxury glass installations. 120 individual pomegranates were created from Czech hand-blown glass by glassmakers from Nové Bor, in the Czech Republic. The pieces are made in several shades of red, from light to burgundy ruby tones. Pomegranates are a typical Mediterranean fruit that have been a symbol of fertility since ancient times. Each hanging fruit has a unique design and its own quirks, which makes this a truly wonderful piece to behold.
Villa Mamas has been purposefully designed to feel like a grander version of Head Chef Roaya Saleh’s home, where her traditional comfort food is created using local ingredients. Designers Verhaal captured the brief perfectly through the exploration of rich culture, delicate tradition and layered personal stories.