The Arts Club Gets an Update by Joyce Wang Studio
Celebrated designer Joyce Wang shares more about her design of the new Oscuro cigar lounge and expanded Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club.
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Design Anthology: When did you first meet the client and when did the project start?
Joyce Wang: I first met the client in Hong Kong some years ago, when we were in discussions about working on a different project. That project never came to fruition, but we’d kept in touch since. The Arts Club project kicked off in the summer of 2018.
Was this a collaboration between your Hong Kong and London offices, or did your London team take the lead?
Our London studio is expanding and so that team took the lead on this project.
How much did you know already know about The Arts Club and what ideas did you have about reviving such a historical institution?
I've had many meals at The Arts Club and always appreciated its coveted art collection. I think the Club has evolved beyond its status as a members-only club for serious art collectors and patrons to become an inclusive and social gathering place. Kyubi and Oscuro both encapsulate the club's storied past through the use of layered finishes and eclectic furnishings; their designs also embrace this new spirit of the Club.
What’s unique about the building and the location?
The building has a few pockets of outdoor space that the Club really capitalises on. The ground-floor courtyard functions as an outdoor dining room with heat lamps and covered cabanas, and we extended the feeling of the planted terrace into the cigar lounge. In central London, being able to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining in privacy and comfort is extremely rare.
What was the project brief?
We were called on to create a cigar lounge that welcomes both cigar aficionados and those who might not be fans of cigars, and especially to create an environment that feels friendly and fresh to women in what was historically a male-dominated space. The cigar lounge also houses the members’ collection of cigars. The brief for Kyubi was to move the existing smaller Japanese restaurant up a floor into a larger space in order to satisfy increasing demand. Kyubi now showcases its impressive sake collection with a dedicated sake bar and omakase sushi counter.
How did you approach the project, and what design references or narrative did you try to incorporate into the spaces?
We imagined Oscuro as a balmy night in a Cuban jungle when a spirited monkey takes on ownership of the place. Playful and eclectic upholstery is set amongst organic ferns and palm leaves; ceilings are clad in mirror in which the Maitland-Smith monkey finds its own reflection.
Kyubi, on the other hand, takes cues from the Meiji era when Western influences first entered Japan. The interiors feature a careful curation of authentic antiques and custom finishes that showcase the refined craftsmanship and decorative arts of the time.
Being so inspired by film, did you incorporate any specific cinematic references we should look out for?
Oscuro was inspired by a monkey’s journey through a Cuban jungle — the marble rails that frame the banquette were envisioned as the monkey’s very own catwalks, while the glass screens represent the vines it might swing from. It’s not inspired by any particular film, but we composed vignettes that are meant to be unravelled frame by frame.
You’re known for your use of materials, and the spaces both seem very layered — can you tell us about your material choices?
Oscuro has layers upon layers of materials. Warm grey timber panelling on the walls provides a backdrop to an eclectic mix of floral and bold patterns, with armchairs covered in fabrics that reference tree bark and tobacco. Rare golden veneers on low-level partitions and feature marbles like Verde Antigua inject the space with fresh, tropical colours. Tobacco leaf tabletops, textured Holophane lights and bevelled glass add to the overall classic and timeless quality of the space. Finally, two monkey lamps are a direct nod to the overarching story.
For Kyubi, we wanted to celebrate individual materials. The overall colour palette — of indigo ombré, shades of white, papaya and burnt orange — and feature mural reference ancient Japanese artworks. Luxurious fabrics sourced directly from Japan, like HOSOO's metallic thread fabrics, help to add a contemporary touch to the space. The architectural features take direct references from the Meji era — there’s parquet inspired by Yosegi Zaiku marquetry with contemporary metal inlays, ceiling mouldings with textured wallpaper and dark timber wall panelling with antique mirrors, all inspired by Western colonial and traditional Japanese architecture.
Were the furnishings custom designed for the space, or is there a mix of vintage there too?
Furnishings in both Oscuro and Kyubi were predominantly custom designed, with a few vintage items mixed in. Oscuro has a limited seating capacity, so we were able to purchase some vintage armchairs that add extra character and a sense of belonging. We sourced additional lighting and decorative accessories that would inject more even more personality into the space.
In Kyubi, we sourced antique Amari lamps for the sake bar to bring authenticity to a key area within the restaurant. This identity is reinforced with the sake barrels and accessories found throughout the whole restaurant.
As told to / Suzy Annetta
Images / James McDonald (Kyubi), Lit Ma (Oscuro)
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Oscuro cigar lounge at London’s The Arts Club. Image by Lit Ma
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
Kyubi restaurant at London’s The Arts Club by Joyce Wang. Image by James McDonald
