FIRE IN THE HOUSE

Firehouse

Parramatta Leagues Club, 13-15 O’Connell St, Parramatta NSW 2150
(02) 8833 0777 or http://www.parraleagues.com.au/

Paul Kelly Design’s concept for the Firehouse was based on the atmosphere and taste of Southern Italy, with the focus on the casual nature of sharing food and beverage. It was also based on a small-scale Italian kitchen, focusing on fire with the pizza oven which is in direct view of customers entering the space.

The space is split into 5 areas – Bar, Lounge, Lounge Dining, Main Dining and Outdoor. All of these spaces are designed to be operated independently or as the one venue, with the ability to work together and/or provide a multitude of different experiences.

Some of the materials (terracotta painted pipes at the entry portals) are no longer used but are reminiscent of the Australian perception of Italian interiors, as they used to be used for wine cellars in Italian restaurants in the 80’s. The bar has a warm oak bench top, contemporary black panelling to the face and a chrome and timber display box to the rear of the bar to showcase the variety of drinks.

The kitchen is intended to look like a ‘traditional’ Italian pizza kitchen, complete with the kitchen cupboards. The custom-designed carpet has the vibrant Italian green tone as well as the almost 70’s geometric feel. The pendant lights by Mance Design are a lightweight illuminated fabric with a cluster of old-school filament globes inside.

The entry window, which has become a Paul Kelly Design signature in recent years, is handmade, using small undersized steel profiles and individual panels of glass. The timber flooring by Big River timbers is pre-aged using methods undertaken in Lithgow gaol by the inmates to ‘beat up’ the flooring strips.