An Enchanted Choreography: Il Lago dei Cigni by The Gallery HBA

(London – 14 January 2014) The Gallery HBA has composed a heady pirouette of wildness and

sophistication for Il Lago dei Cigni, the latest epicurean hotspot from the owners of the Buddha Bar St.

Petersburg. This contemporary Italian fine dining restaurant impresses a sense of both wonder and

contradiction through inspired design details that weave Russian folklore and the tale of the restaurant’s

namesake, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with the idyllic nature of Krestovsky Island, where the favourites

of Russia’s tsars once resided. The result is a modern gourmet destination for the city’s aspirational

residents and tastemakers alike.

Nestled into the woodlands along a small pond, Il Lago dei Cigni has been newly built next to the “swan

house”, the dwelling where the graceful birds which dot the island’s lakes live and breed. Across the

lake, a white gazebo with a delicate rotunda further paints a romantic ambience. Panoramic, floor-to-

ceiling windows encircle the round footprint of the main dining area, framing the lakeside backdrop. An

exquisite central column and chandelier together form the star of the room, a shimmering allusion to

Russian fairytales and the folklore around maypole dancing, the ancient rite of dancing in the forest to

celebrate the solstice and the rhythms of nature. Its pillar is clad in clefts of natural selenite rock crystal

which disappear into the circular backlit soffit at the ceiling, whilst cascading from the round canopy are

“ribbons” hewn from shimmering crystals interspersed with geometric copper wire talismen suggestive

of magical forces at play in this enchanted place.

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Peter the Great’s vision for his new capital St. Petersburg is also honoured in The Gallery’s design

concept for Il Lago dei Cigni. During his rule, the tsar transformed the city into the “Venice of the North”,

investing in palaces, engineering and shipbuilding to create a glittering attraction for European

architects, scientists and thinkers. This spirit of intellectual pursuit has been interpreted in a

contemporary manner with numerous details to discover. Timber cabinets display intriguing curiosities

as if scientific specimens meant for inspection: bespoke art fixtures have been crafted from magnifying

glasses placed in front of wine bottle labels; glass domes exhibit mounted beetles or butterflies; small

pen and ink studies of swans have been framed; and bundles of timeworn French manuscripts have

been bound together with string into parcels. Some of the cabinets feature antiqued bronzed glass or

backlit selenite back panels, adding to the sparkle in the room.

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Beautiful natural materials add to the sense of luxury. Wide plank teak floors are rustic yet refined,

selenite cladding appears again on the façades of the bar and cabinetry, and Italian-made chairs

upholstered in rich cognac leather and truffle toned herringbone wool all bring a connection to the

natural world. Modern renditions of traditional Russian fabric motifs usher in subtle splashes of

softness. Scrolled floral patterns in the scatter cushions and embossed metal reliefs recall time-

honoured Slavic textile designs and the stylised interpretation of traditional lace doilies in the cut and

loop espresso and cream coloured carpeting adds a sophisticated touch of femininity. Above the bar,

lighting crafted from hand-blown Czech glass casts a warm glimmer.

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Tucked away behind sliding timber doors with hammered copper handles, Il Lago de Cigni’s private

dining space is a cosy haven which glows from the glazed antiqued mirror covering the back wall and a

Czech glass chandelier. The restaurant’s rarest vintages and varietals are exhibited in bespoke

handcrafted wine cabinets.

Dining al fresco is also an alluring prospect. Downstairs, guests may enjoy the lakeside sunset, whilst

the upstairs terrace and rooftop bar are sheltered from the elements by a glass canopy. A trellis woven

with greenery breaks up the open space of the upper level, forming nooks with a degree of intimacy for

dining or lounging on sofas kitted out with warm throws. The finishes maintain the natural feel of those

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indoors, with rustic hand-beaten metals, sun-washed timbers, planters of lush foliage and floor lanterns

which cast dramatic shadows.

“By juxtaposing passion and edginess with tranquillity and heritage, we have created a unique dining

experience that is new to the traditions of St. Petersburg and Krestovsky Island and is also a relaxing

enclave to see and be seen in,” says Inge Moore Principal and Creative Director of The Gallery HBA.

About The Gallery HBA

The Gallery is the studio within HBA London that is dedicated to high-concept bespoke interior design for the hospitality and residential sectors. As imaginative storytellers and intuitive inventors, The Gallery’s designers excel at weaving spirited narratives into couture décor. They stand out in their talent for creating unique experiences shaped by designs that are a fusion of tradition and innovation, the hand-crafted and the finely engineered. The Gallery is at ease within all design idioms, translating clients’ objectives into interiors that are relevant and enriching and, as a result, the team’s work is acclaimed around the world.

Current and recent projects by The Gallery/HBA London include: The Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland; the spa and restaurant at Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Center; Mena House Oberoi in Cairo; The Palm House Resort and Spa, Palm Beach, Florida; Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel in San Sebastian, Spain; Waldorf Astoria Ras al-Khaimah, UAE; the Couture Suite at the St. Regis Rome; Omkar 1973 Worli, Mumbai; the Royal Suite at the InterContinental London Park Lane; Hilton Schiphol, Amsterdam; La Stejarii, Bucharest, Romania; Kempinski Minsk; Sea Hotel, Bat Yam, Israel; Conrad Cairo; Westin Florence; ESPA at the Istanbul EDITION and the Ritz-Carlton ESPA, Hong Kong; and the Ritz-Carlton Tunis, Tunisia.

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