Rockwell Group, the New York-based architecture and interior design studio, has introduced Skywalker Grill, a 160-cover restaurant and 18-cover bar at the newly opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
Situated in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, the Lucas Museum is an approximate 28,000 sq m expansive art gallery with two state-of-the-art theatres and dedicated spaces for learning and engagement, dining, retail, and events. Rockwell Group’s Los Angeles office has unveiled the signature on-site restaurant and the ground-floor cafe.
For the design concept, Rockwell Group envisioned Skywalker Grill as a fusion of contemporary and Mid-century Modern design. The design draws on the optimism and warmth of California’s residential interiors and plays off the Museum’s distinctive exterior. Its geometry evokes a cinematic quality: columns and architectural elements are strategically composed to frame surrounding views, while continuous curves and sculpted forms create a sense of movement and visual rhythm throughout the restaurant. The result is a lived-in authenticity that makes people want to linger and share a fun, convivial meal.
“We wanted Skywalker Grill to feel intrinsically connected to the architecture and spirit of the Lucas Museum, without simply replicating it,” said founder and President David Rockwell.
“The contrast between warm, highly crafted cherry wood and luminous, almost otherworldly surfaces allowed us to create a space that feels both familiar and futuristic. There is a sense of discovery in the details, but ultimately it is a restaurant designed around people – somewhere welcoming, convivial and memorable.”
Rockwell Group wanted the restaurant to feel connected to George Lucas’s world through materiality, craftsmanship, imagination, and an optimism about the future of design. The warmth and hospitality of his Skywalker Ranch—and Lucas’s preference for cherry wood—are infused in the design of the dining room. Hand- and machine-milled cherry-wood panels wrap the interior walls and ceiling, ensuring no two panels match, while white onyx slump-moulded Corian surfaces provide soft illumination, bouncing light around the space and giving it a warm ambience. Finger-raked cherry-wood-panelled columns create rhythm and texture, echoing the tambour banquettes lining the room’s perimeter. At the heart of the space is a fantastical bar, featuring a crystal silver-leaf bar die and a glowing Corian back bar wall.
The curvaceous cherry-wood walls rise gracefully to meet a coved ceiling finished with hand-applied acoustical plaster, providing both form and function. Thoughtfully placed panel joints are aligned to conceal recessed lighting, creating a seamless glow. Each panel – unique in shape and size – is individually mounted, highlighting the project’s craftsmanship and precision.
At the heart of the space is a sculptural central banquette, capped in rich cherry wood and Corian. More intimate seating groups gather around it, fostering a warm sense of conviviality. Custom tables with warm wood surfaces feature artisan-crafted glass lenses set into their bases. Softly illuminated from within, the glass elements cast a warm, jewel-like glow across the floor, adding an unexpected layer of atmosphere and magic to the guest experience.
The Private Dining Room offers an elegant extension of the main dining space, carrying the same refined design language while introducing a heightened sense of privacy and exclusivity. A switch-glass wall transforms from transparent to frosted at the touch of a button, instantly enclosing the space when desired. Beyond the dining areas, an outdoor terrace offers a more relaxed setting and views of the city, with banquette and loose seating nestled among lush plantings. The result is a serene, garden-like retreat that can be enjoyed from both the main dining room and the Private Dining Room.
Bringing together architecture, craftsmanship and a sense of wonder, Skywalker Grill translates the Lucas Museum’s imaginative spirit into a distinctly social experience. Warm cherry wood, sculptural forms and luminous surfaces create a dialogue between the familiar and the experimental, while meticulous detailing lends the restaurant a richness that reveals itself over time. Skywalker Grill offers visitors a place to gather, dine and linger – extending the experience of storytelling and discovery beyond the galleries.
