The Secret Cellar at La Colombe

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Warren Heath

Discover a hidden world of wine.

Recently shortlisted for the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, the Secret Cellar at La Colombe, designed by MR. Design Studio is a true subterranean wonder. As you descend the stairs into this hidden, magical realm of wine your world grows silent and your senses are honed. It’s so secret that those who enter are required to leave their phones in a secure box at their table.

With walls clad in tactile recycled virgin cork, the sound is muted to absorb all distractions. Tree roots pierce the surface to create a dimly lit mood and bronze mycelium lines the walls creating surfaces where food is served and wine is poured.

Wiid Design, the award-winning design studio founded by Laurie Wiid van Heerden, was called in to create the unique texture of the walls. Each board was hand-chopped and carved to obtain a soil-like texture. “Our team was on-site for days to ensure a perfect seamless result, chopping by hand and working off the cork using techniques we have developed over a period of 10 years. The result is truly magnificent,” says Laurie.

To create the sculptural bronze mushrooms lining the walls, Bronze Age Studio foraged mushrooms from the slopes of Table Mountain and used a 3D scanner to sculpt and manipulate them before casting them in bronze. “The concept was to populate a recently refurbished, underground wine cellar, with a mixture of mushrooms and roots, growing out of the walls and ceiling. Once ready, the pieces were 3D printed, moulded, and cast, and the final result looks incredible,” explains the studio.

The winners of the 2024 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards will be announced on 31 October. | bymr.co.za

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