DOYLES ON THE WHARF
WATSONS BAY, SYDNEY
Doyle’s on the Wharf is a Sydney institution that has been serving seafood since 1855. The site began as a humble outlet where Doyle originally sold his daily catch, then became a fish and chip shop which played a pivotal role in making Watson’s Bay a tourist attraction. The restaurant overlooks a small stretch of sandy beach with small dinghies that dot the shore that stretches to vistas of Sydney’s skyline.
The Redevelopment of Doyles on the wharf is a contemporary realisation of the Watsons Bay psychology that is a celebration of lifestyle and location while embodying the Doyles heritage to create a venue that is uniquely Sydney. The functionality of the building has been broken up to offer a street-facing takeaway kiosk, while the rear water-facing side of the venue offers in house dining and bar facilities.
The iconic wharf location has been emphasised in the architecture of the building, with the raw exposed elements of the reclaimed rough sawn eucalyptus blackbutt revealing the simple structure of the building, creating a sense of occasion that evokes the notion of wood weathered by the unrelenting forces of the sea. The orientation of the building and the ceilings rise to the north to capture the coveted northern aspect and Sydney Harbour Views.
It was important that the interior of the venue did not compete for attention with the views, but provided a relaxing harmony for patrons to enjoy. This has been achieved by using a palette of materials and colours inspired by the natural landscape of the Watsons Bay environment that provide an unpretentious refinement, a feeling of serenity intimacy.
Project
Doyles on the Wharf
Kiosk & Dine in Restaurant & Bar
Job Type
Complete site redeveloment
Year
2019
Location
Military Rd, Watsons Bay NSW 2030
Software
AutoCAD
SketchUp
Vray
Enscape
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe InDesign
SITE LOCATION
FISHERMANS WHARF, MILITARY RD, WATSONS BAY
Watsons Bay, a harbor-side and ocean side eastern suburb of Sydney, is located 11 km north-east of the Sydney CBD, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra. Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula.
The eastern side of Watsons Bay is dominated by a rugged coastal landscape at the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Rugged exposed sandstone ridges and cliffs plunge into the Tasman Sea, which is in contrast to the protected bays and sheltered beaches on the western side of the peninsula.
Map images via Google Earth
CONCEPT
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
1.
2.
The air smells like the sea, the morning light dances across Fisherman’s Wharf. Watsons Bay is symbolic of the Sydney way of life. The design concept for Doyles on the Wharf explores the fusion of Watsons Bay's natural beauty and iconic harbourside setting, by blurring the boundaries between the internal and external functionality and design simplicity.
MATERIALITY
INSPIRED BY THE AUSTRALIAN LANDSCAPE
Zebex Grey Translucent Curtain
Supplied by:
Warwick Fabrics
Scoop neutral leather
Supplied by:
Skheme
Cosmo aqua linen seat fabric
Supplied by:
Saigon Fabrics
Teak plywood planks
Supplied by:
Plymaster
Polished Zion Soapstone
Supplied by:
Earp Bros
Ceppo Polished fauz Stone
Supplied by:
Skheme
The prevalent use of timbers enhances the character of the wharf location, while also providing texture and soft repetition to elongate the space. The timber on the walls, ceilings and decorative overhead feature of the bar have been painted in low contrast whites, blues and greens to mimic the muted Australian colours of the surrounding environment. The vibrant teal fabric on the cushions of the Zon armchairs creates pops of colour to make the space more visually dynamic, whilst the use of over-sized woven rattan pendant lights which fill the void created by the raked ceiling also provide a beach vibe.
Another interior design feature which connects the built environment to the natural is the large sheer grey curtains covering the ceiling and windows above the booth seating, specifically chosen to capture the movement of the northeasterly summer sea breeze. The motion of the wind through the sheer curtains will capture the atmosphere of summer winds, and the slow back and forth motion provides a calming repetition.
BRANDING
LOCATION & BRAND HISTORY
A contemporary refresh of the Doyles branding coincides with the relaunch of the venue. The branding drew on the rich fishing history of the Doyles brand and intends to portray the carefree nature of a child fishing with their legs hanging over the edge, which is a direct reference back to the wharf location.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN
Experimenting with curves so the roof line reflects the motion of the waves
Enhancing the duality of the building for dramatic affect. The split roof lines allows sunlight to penetrate into the interior, and easy integration at the front of house for two kiosks.
Simplifying the original design and creating overhangs to allow for shading. This design also opens up to the north to maximise views.
Evolution of the previous design, creating structure to the outside space to blur the boundaries of the building.
CONCEPT SKETCHES
SPATIAL PLANNING
Spatial configuration
Bar visualization sketch
Alfresco dining visualization sketch
HAND DRAWN SECTIONS
SECTIONS & AXONOMETRIC
Axonometric drawing | Section 1 | Section 3 |
---|---|---|
Section 2 |
INTERIOR VIGNETTES
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
FLOOR PLAN
DOYLES ON THE WHARF REDEVELOPMENT
JOINERY DETAIL
BAR DETAIL
PERSPECTIVE
Scoop Sand Proccelain gloss bar tile
Supplied by:
Skheme
Polished Zion Soapstone bar top
Supplied by:
Earp Bros
Teak plywood planks bar table
Supplied by:
Plymaster
TOP VIEW
JOINERY DETAIL
FEATURE WALL
PERSPECTIVE
Supplied by:
Venis Porcelena
Tanzania Almond timber cladding
TOP VIEW
The feature bar wall rises from the floor to the ceiling and encapsulates the kitchen is functional yet sculptural. The undulating corresponding waves inspired by the movement of water create overhangs and underhangs which are used as surfaces to place plants and bottles while also allowing accent lighting to provide an extra dimension of motion. The bar feature wall is finished in Tanzanian almond timber cladding which adds a soft tactile surface that becomes a unifying element between the built and natural environments