Jean-Louis Deniot Designs a Glamorous, Green Restaurant in Hong Kong’s The Legacy
The elegant grounds of Château de Chantilly inspired designer Jean-Louis Deniot to infuse a signature restaurant for Henderson Land with dynamic garden motifs
Chantilly may be celebrated internationally as the birthplace of deliciously decadent whipped cream, but for Paris-based interior designer Jean-Louis Deniot, Chantilly holds a personal connection, too. His holiday home is near the French town, and both are just a scenic hour-long drive north of the French capital.
Along with imprinting his style upon the 50th- and 51st-floor duplex for luxury Henderson Land residential development The Legacy in Hong Kong’s mid-levels, Deniot was responsible for designing the building’s signature restaurant. The latter forms part of an expansive clubhouse and features lofty eight-metre-high ceilings in the dining area, complete with a show kitchen, allowing owners to indulge in theatrical gastronomy. Complementing the entertainment spaces is a wine cellar that leads to a multipurpose lounge, with support facilities including his-and-hers washrooms.
‘My concept for the duplex was inspired by my admiration for the elegance of Hong Kong people: the soft palette of colours reflects their elegant fashion sense,’ Deniot explains. ‘In comparison, my design for the signature restaurant is festive, with elements of surprise. I was inspired by the beautiful gardens at Château de Chantilly, particularly the romantic fountains and trellises, and the stunning gazebo in its English Garden. I wanted to bring nature and greenery inside without being too literal.’
The restaurant features full-height glazing, and above the main space Deniot has designed an inverted crystal fountain to capture the energy of moving water in an ethereal chandelier. Sconces continue the rhythm with shades similar to water droplets. The deep recessed ceiling is clad in hammered silver, echoing the finish Deniot selected for a feature wall in the duplex.
A series of petal-shaped tables comes together to form a large counter seating up to 14 guests, which can be reconfigured for smaller groups depending on the occasion, and its seats are a contemporary take on the traditional Louis XVI chair. Off to one side, a long island is designed to accommodate the celebrity chefs invited to cook in the space, along with a working kitchen equipped with state of the art appliances.
‘The restaurant encourages fun, lively moments for lasting memories that will always be attached to this location,’ Deniot shares. ‘I wanted to create the feeling of being inside a garden while dining. The reflective surfaces, such as the rippling silver ceiling, remind me of the reflecting ponds at Château de Chantilly. In the washrooms, vanities are supported by stylised tree trunks; green terrazzo tiles were intentionally chosen for the walls as they’re a very Hong Kong material that fits in well with my concept.’
In contrast to the airy dining space, the multi-purpose lounge features custom drapery that evokes the hush of a dense forest, with light filtering through leafy foliage. A bespoke rug resembles the earthy hues of velvety moss that covers forest floors and clings to bark.
‘I’ve worked on various projects in Hong Kong for more than a decade,’ Deniot says. ‘I love its history and its people’s level of sophistication. It is easy to be inspired by places we love.’
Text by Rebecca Lo
Images courtesy of The Legacy
