neni amsterdam
completed
february 2019
responsibilties
interior design
programme
size 1090 sqm
location
amsterdam, nl
completed
february 2019
responsibilties
interior design
programme
size 1090 sqm
location
amsterdam, nl
the origin of NENI
The design for NENI & The Lemonman Bar Amsterdam is inspired by both its very location in the former Citroën garage, and the origin of NENI’s cuisine, as Eastern Mediterranean fusion food. Given the partially Israeli background of NENI’s creators and the fact that Tel Aviv is their go-to place, the concept embodies the warmth of Tel Aviv inside an industrial garage setting. The challenge was to merge historical, local and international architectural styles into one. NENI brings the atmosphere of a warm summer night on a Tel Aviv patio inside, capturing the feeling of an outdoor terrace within the interior and architecture of the restaurant.
NENI Deli
The entrance to NENI Deli, an all-day eatery, is located on the ground floor. The floor is covered in tiles with a mixture of Mediterranean patterns in several shades of grey.
At the far end of the space, separated by a black steel framed glass facade that mimics the aesthetic of the original glass facade of the building, the bakery makes and bakes fresh bread and dough on a daily basis. The Deli and bakery are separated by glass doors to make the baking process 100% transparent.
The Deli kitchen is situated in the centre of the space in an old Citroën food truck that features a warm yellow colour as a homage to the former Citroën garage. To the left and right of the Deli truck, two wide ‘living’ staircases finished in warm oak lead up to the restaurant on the first floor.
NENI restaurant
The restaurant, located on the first floor, is an internal space designed as an outdoor patio. The front of the kitchen is located in a custom-made ‘greenhouse’ at the heart of the space to strengthen the feel of an outside terrace. Several pairs of 4-metre benches invite guests to have dinner at tables for two or combined to create one large communal table to enjoy a meal together.
Big fig trees integrated into the benches and lantern-like lamps provide a playful outdoor touch. Opposite the kitchen, the beverage station is located in a niche in the back wall of the restaurant. Next to the beverage station, various round seating niches in the back wall provide more intimate dining spots. The back wall itself is covered with floor-to-ceiling shutters, backlit to enhance the feeling of an Eastern Mediterranean patio.
The Lemonman Bar
From the NENI restaurant, a staircase leads to the mezzanine floor where the Lemonman Bar and the restrooms are located.
The name of the bar derives from the last name of the great grandfather of Citroën’s founder: Roelof Limoenman, an Amsterdam-based seller of tropical fruit. His son later changed the name to Citroen which means ‘lemon’ in Dutch.
In the centre of the space is a freestanding bar. Its back wall is surrounded by multiple storeys of suspended bottle racks featuring a collection of lemon-related beverage items. To the left and right of the bar gallery-like seating elements offer an exciting view towards the fully glazed facade and the street below.
facts & figures
total area 1090 sqm
FOH area 890 sqm
concrete
responsibilities interior design
team rob wagemans, lisa hassanzadeh, pim houben, natalia kozyra, zana josipovic, femke zumbrink, stevie wesdorp
partners & collaborators
client h hospitality / ronald huiskamp, nl
architect rijnboutt, nl
developer bouwinvest, nl
contractor lokhorst / peak development, nl
photography wouter van der sar, nl
awards
frame winner restaurant of the year
