Getting into the Game: Designing a Temple to Sport
Seattle, Washington — April 5, 2004 — Combining the desires of the ultimate sports fan, the comforts of home, control of the remote and a menu from one of Seattle's most celebrated chefs requires a restaurant that is high-energy and fun, yet sophisticated and, most of all, approachable. This was the task set before Seattle architecture, interior design and planning firm Weber + Thompson when they were invited to design a restaurant that celebrates all things Sport for Executive Chef John Howie III, an ultimate sports fan himself. "I challenged Weber + Thompson to create a comfortable Sports restaurant environment with high-tech video components that felt like it had been there for years," says Howie. "The team at Weber + Thompson hit a home run! Giving me the exact feel I wanted."
The atmosphere of Sport is a cross between a stadium experience and watching a game in the comfort of your own living room, remote in hand and kitchen stocked. Booths have their own adjustable TV screens; deep-seated chairs have attached food trays and built-in drink-holders; and during local major league games, patrons have their own live play-by-play from KOMO TV and Radio's special broadcast table. The history of sports is even played out in the extensive memorabilia collection displayed throughout the restaurant, in a combination of permanent and rotating collections. Sport's entryway features memorabilia cases dedicated to Seattle, highlighting Seattle Champions, guest exhibitor cases, and, behind the host station, for-sale Sport paraphernalia.
Sport's design elements — chairs, tables, walls, booths — subtly allude to sports, underscoring rather than rivaling the abundant presence of sports on the TV screens and in the memorabilia cases. Sparse spaces, hard surfaces, and muted colors with occasional accents all work together as a backdrop for the activity coming from the screens and the history present in the memorabilia cases. "This is a restaurant dedicated to all kinds of sports, from baseball to horse racing, and hockey to skiing," says Donna Bergeron, Senior Associate at Weber + Thompson and lead interior designer of Sport. "We made sure that the restaurant itself simply served as a comfortable, approachable place that would allow patrons to focus on what was most important — The Game."
That approachable comfort also came with a wink. The booth backs are covered in a turf green fabric with a repeating basketball pattern, chairs in the lounge are covered in an orange fabric with abstract falling balls, bar chairs feature abstracted footballs, and some chairs closely resemble baseball mitts with stiff leather, stitched bases and small raised backs.
The restaurant is comprised of three distinct areas. At the front of the restaurant is a family-friendly dining area with booths and the broadcaster table. Next to the dining area is a lounge dominated by a 130 inch screen. "It is like watching the game in your living room," says Bergeron. "We worked hard to create a very comfortable atmosphere where people feel like they are at home or in a skybox at a stadium."
The third area is the bar, where the rowdier fans congregate to root for their favorite team. "It was created to be a packed space," states Bergeron. A central curved bar dominates with four plasma TV's overlooking the area so everyone can catch the latest play. Individual booths line the back of the bar area, each, again, with its own individual TV screen.
Design Team
Weber + Thompson, architect and interior designer — Blaine Weber AIA, Principal in Charge; Donna Bergeron Lead Interior Designer; Jillene Cochran Lead Designer.
About Weber + Thompson
Seattle-based Weber + Thompson is a full-service, West Coast architecture and interior design firm. Principals Blaine Weber AIA, Scott Thompson AIA, and Kristen Scott AIA, oversee an experienced staff of 58 design and construction professionals. Founded in 1987, Weber + Thompson's practice is diverse, with architecture and interior design project types including high-density urban infill, residential, commercial office, hospitality, and senior housing. The firm has won various awards for their excellence in planning and design. Weber + Thompson seeks effective results through a thoughtful and collaborative design process.
For more information visit www.weberthompson.com,
or contact Weber + Thompson by phone at (206) 344 5700
or email info@weberthompson.com.