In early 2020, we began on a (big) project very close to our hearts and it had kept us quite occupied.

Nestled in the heart of the Kitisuru suburb, the site of our project was an old home from an era long passed. We began by gutting the entire interior of the existing house to reveal its skeleton. Based on the layouts and spatial plan of the restaurant to be, structural enhancements were put into place to ensure we got the required openings and spaces. Besides revamping the existing main house, which was the nucleus of the entire project, this project took us back into civil construction and structural steel fabrication to erect everything from the boundary wall, the ancillary buildings and structures that were non-existent on the barren site.

As work was ongoing at the site, our workshop was concurrently fabricating various steel elements such as windows and doors. Our joinery and furniture divisions had begun work on the timber elements that needed to fixed in. The synchrony of the on-site construction and off-site production was closely monitored to ensure that everything produced fit in its rightful place with absolute precision, a testimony of the quality that we are synonymous with.

Stretched over just about 11 months from ground-breaking to opening its doors to the public, we worked through the seasons to bring-to-life our client’s vision. The second half of this journey highlights progress and the meticulous process of installation of the aesthetics that grace the surfaces of this beautiful restaurant.

Behind all the finished surfaces lies an intricate network of essential services which gives life to the operational aspect of the restaurant. We worked with an amazing team of specialised subcontractors to integrate and install an array of infrastructure for power, water and drainage, structured cabling, audio and visual to ensure minimum disruption to the overall ‘look and feel’ of the project. It was very critical to work with a team that was efficient in its execution but also sensitive to the aesthetics of the property.

It goes without saying that it took a very bold client such as the Ankole Grill to pull off this amazing feat. We are honoured to be entrusted with materialising this beautiful vision as well as the opportunity to have participated in active creative conversations with aspects of this build.

Site Office turned Private Dining

For the build, we set out to build a site office in one nook of the worksite with the aim to eventually turn it into a usable space for the restaurant upon completion. With tubular steel to frame the massive windows and sliding doors, it's a space that has a constant connection to the outdoors. Accompanying the space is a big deck in Lunawood timber with the same timber being used for the built-in cabinetry and ceiling cladding, all finished in our signature oils and waxes. To top it all off, custom fabricated hand-rails across the entire deck.

The Firepit

The property faces a beautiful wooded valley and the client saw the opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful view in the form of The Firepit. A completely new structure and form, we began by excavating for the casting of a circular stepped concrete form to give shape to a lounge with a bonfire centerpiece. The fixed benches in Lunawood followed the circular form of the structure, as well as the lower deck which was clad in the same timber. With indirect lighting as the final touch, this is truly a beautiful space to enjoy with a glass of wine!

The Main Restaurant Space

From fully indoor to fully outdoor spaces and everything inbetween, the main restaurant area has a wide variety of options to fit any mood. The main lounge stays true to the Ankole Grill atmosphere with the signature ribbed booths in slate grey upholstery with bespoke lighting to light up the space and table tops. Wooden engineered laminate floorboards from BOEN® cover the entire main house floor from the ground floor to the first floor with solid Mvule timber step linings on the staircase in between. The custom-fabricated metal chairs and tables across the restaurant gives rise to a truly unique dining experience.

The stepped patio accommodates a wide variety of dining choices, from the custom-made picnic benches to cozy, coupled Adirondack chairs. Not to mention, the incredible main bar with an expansive solid timber counter top that is lit up by a line up of bespoke lighting.