Mana was once a huge manmade box of glass, steel and concrete. Located in the
middle of Ancoats, an area of Manchester that historically became a cradle of the
Industrial Revolution and as such, is still quite industrial.
This needed to be transformed into a space where people could feel in touch with
the elemental forces of nature, the very ethos that embodies Mana.
Simon Martin and his team wanted to create an informal dining experience, serving a
multiple course menu to showcase the best of our islands produce at any time of the
year.
It was therefore imperative that the design was minimalistic and earthy in order to
reflect the purpose of the experience and place importance on the dishes which are
the feature of the restaurant.
Designed by JRD in conjunction with ZSpace UK; Rische Group were set the task of
fitting out this incredible space.
The double height ceiling was an obvious part of the buildings structure. In order to
keep in line with the design concept, Rische lowered this, creating a curved bulkhead
which instantly made the space feel more homely.
The curve in the ceiling creates movement, complimenting the 6m high curtains,
ultimately reducing the harshness of the exterior. The installation of the curtains
created a private restaurant in a bustling Manchester setting while allowing natural
light to pour into the space, striking a balance between nature and architecture.
It was imperative that Rische built the ceiling strong enough to withstand the weight
of the feature lighting as well as having specialised fire protection and insulation to
protect it due to the complexities caused by the car park situated above the
restaurant.
The boldly minimalist Puro-Single Brokis pendants were suspended from the ceiling.
The diffused glow of the tubes elicits a dynamic ambiance which also provided a
practical use for diners.
An XAL ‘move-it’ track lighting system was also installed above the kitchen. Its
magnetic component enables the chefs to move the lighting around to suit their
activities.
Porcelanosa sheet tiling was installed by Rische to add to the restaurants’ ‘earthy’
feel as well as providing a practical use to protect the walls. The bar and waiter
stations were bespoke made by Martina and installed by Rische Group.
The herb wall situated in front of a feature dining table, provides Mana chefs with
fresh herbs, each with their own compartment and specialised UV light to help
stimulate growth.
After 8 weeks of hard work by all parties involved, Rische Group were able to deliver
this outstanding dining experience, unique to Manchester.
In November 2019, Rische Group were awarded the ‘Bar and Restaurant Design’
and the ‘Commercial interior project’ award 2019 at the Northern Design Awards
2019 for our works at Mana.
