Warp and Werft / the flying carpet
How can we transform a former carpet factory in Berlin into a hip, modern, inspiring restaurant without overpainting the history of its origins? This question was the starting point for Sharon and me when we started to think of a concept within this one-day workshop.
We started the creative thinking in an unusual, yet highly recommendable way We were brainstorming in sketches on a big Flipchart paper. It is a very effective and mind-opening way to find ideas and to loosen up in a fun way. Funnily enough, the thinking process is somehow illustrated which can be interesting to show in a presentation which we did.
It was clear that we want to bring the carpet back in the factory, yet in another way. But it had to become a central element. We were thinking of the use of a carpet, its origin, purpose, and structure. We had a strong association with the Arabian culture or countries like Marocco where people often eat much lower on the floor, on beautiful carpets. However, wanted to bring the carpet on more levels than just in a flat way on the floor and that’s how we came up with the idea of a carpet which looks like it is flying.
The flying carpet would be a custom-made giant upscaled structure of a carpet, floating between the columns through the factory hall. People can sit on the carpet and cushions, around small tables. The rhythm of the carpet will rise and lower, creating a bench or a step in between floor- and flying level.
On the central carpet element, they will serve tea, mezze and finger food whereas in the two other seating areas alongside the factory walls you could also order whole menus like tajine, etc. One area will have a wooden structure, like a pergola, creating a semiprivate feeling which should let the guests dream about a beautiful covered outdoor space on a warm summer evening in Marrakech.
I almost forgot to say: In the entrance, people would change their normal shoes to special slippers - as a ritual of the restaurant experience and that the flying carpet stays nice. Just like in real Riads, we thought of adding water as well to either wash the feet before or as a large water basin or fountain. Too bad we didn’t have more time to continue working on the concept.
