Preen, Inc.’s design for Bower Surf Club, Santa Monica, brings the soul of Australian surf culture to coastal California. Dave Harper’s latest restaurant opened last month, with the design project finishing earlier this year.
“Surf culture is about a feeling, more than the visual iconography, and that’s what shaped our vision,” says Alexis Readinger, founder of Preen, Inc.
“It’s a sensation of being barefoot in the sand, a deep love of nature, the journey and what we find along the way. The materiality supports that, both in what has been added to the space and in thoughtful conservation of existing elements.”
Physical space becomes the embodiment of surf culture’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle and laidback sense of community. Stunning wood outdoor booths bring the indoors out. The team installed operable windows so that diners can feel the coastal breeze while they have a coffee or linger over lunch. Interior jalousie windows reuse original glass and further direct fresh air through the space, evoking the sensory nature of the beach.
The energetics of the space create enclaves, inviting diners to explore the restaurant and choose the experience that speaks to them. Colour is the guide; the overall palette is clean, white and natural. Concrete, canvas, plaster and weathered wood support the airy feel while layering in tactile, organic textures. In the main dining room, replastered original booths lighten and soften the space while providing space for relaxed conversation. A slight deepening towards sandy tones near the open kitchen reflects the warmer energy of that area. An angled soffit and wood banquettes frame this heart of the space.
The bar’s deep oceanic green concrete top marks it as a hub of activity, from morning coffee to evening cocktails. Lighting enhances the energy, with a linear strip light embedded in both the bartop and in the rough-cut shelves, creating a technical play with these organic elements. Uplighting evokes a coastal mist, balancing the jetty-like volume of the bar itself.
Burnt sienna in the private dining room wraps diners in the intense warmth of a beach. Wood niche seating and a massive table shelter diners looking for a moment of introverted reflection or extroverted connection.
The objects in the space, root burls, rocks, driftwood and plants, drawn from from Dave Harper’s personal collection, drive curiosity and echo what’s in the home of many surf enthusiasts. A surfer friend of his created much of the art, adding abstract colour and a finishing touch of authenticity.
