100% DESIGN LONDON - DalCasa

Autor projekta je mladi splitski arhitekt Duje Kaliterna /
The author of the project is young architect Duje
Kaliterna from Split
Ruski milijarder Viktor Veselberg uložio je “nekoliko”
milijuna kuna u uređenje restorana / Russian millionair
Viktor Veselberg invests “several” milion kunas in
decorating
60
Several weeks ago, Dubrovnik witnessed the
opening of a sensational pink-purple establishment
called “Gil’s Cuisine & Pop Lounge”, where
you can enjoy fantastic food and terrific music in
a wonderful ambience. Numerous guests experienced
that during the summer as they were looking for that
extra-spot in this interesting establishment, which was
certainly necessary in a city like Dubrovnik. Up until today,
nobody’s been able to find any shortcomings in
this glorious space, which features the personality spirit
of its creator, young designer Duje Kaliterna.
Up until the cooperation on the Gil’s Restaurant, he already
had one large project in his resume, and that’s
the People’s Restaurant in Zagreb.
– Regardless of my youth, I had complete freedom
while working on this restaurant project in Dubrovnik –
Duje tells us, and reveals that he was contacted for this
job, in the name of the Russian billionaire owner Viktor
Veselberg, by the man who gets credit for this restaurant’s
name, and who finished this project along with
Kaliterna – famous French chef Gilles Camilleri.
– Yes, Gilles contacted us in this year’s January and I
was intrigued by the idea. Their only demand was to
accommodate their desire for a grand-sized kitchen,
which I did. – Kaliterna explains, and the Russian billionaire’s
personal chef also designed the whole menu
in this restaurant.
The investor also made a request regarding the colour,
and Duje Kaliterna has this to say about it:
– They wanted the dominant presence of the pink colour
and funky style. In line with those wishes, we threw a
presentation and they really liked it. Our intention was
to create something completely different in Dubrovnik.
Immediately after entering the Gil’s, you find yourself in
a completely different environment, filled with textile,
lighting, flowers, purple and blue shades. You could
call that style retro funky.
The young architect had to work really hard on this
space in order to draw the visitors’ attention in a unique
way. Duje Kaliterna elaborates:
– The object is very complicated. It consists of several
completely different units, and each of them has its
own story. The outdoor terraces are covered in white
stone or exotic wood, while the restaurant interior is
covered in oak parquet.
The restaurant’s outdoor terrace is a collection of glass
tables, and the chairs are upholstered in white leather,
along with retro-sampled carpets. The restaurant interior
features Minotti chairs covered in purple textile,
wooden tables, Ether chandeliers, textile on the ceiling…
Lounge sofas are covered in white leather or
purple textile, and then there are Minotti tables, big
leather cushions, Minotti armchairs covered in textile…
Gunner’s hideouts are covered in wood, again with
plenty of cushions, and there are also textile waterfalls
and the lighting.
This awfully busy young author approaches every new
project in his own way. Although the procedure never
changes, he “utilizes” a very specific work method for
each of his projects.
– The minute I first step foot into a certain space, I imagine
it the way I would have created it, and that original
idea of mine holds me in good stead until the end.