The Seafarers’ Mission
A home away from home for old salts has been transformed into a multi layered restaurant, bar and private club that has maintained its ‘On the Waterfront’ ambiance.
A couple of years ago I became a foundation member of Seafarers Club, a private club venue situated above Ostro Restaurant occupying levels 3-7 of the historic Seafarers Mission Building which was renovated as part of the Britomart redevelopment.
The Britomart scheme followed an international design competition and a lengthy competitive bid process won by the Bluewater Consortium. Cooper and Company later took over responsibility for the regeneration and long-term management of Britomart, including the refurbishment of eighteen heritage buildings and the construction of seven environmentally friendly new ones. Work began on restoring the old buildings in 2004, and many have now been fully refurbished. On completion, it will be the largest heritage restoration project ever undertaken in New Zealand.
For generations Britomart has been a strategically important place of defence, transport and trade. Originally Point Britomart was once the site of Fort Britomart, an active base for British colonial troops in the 1860s. Its name was taken from a Royal Navy gunship, HMS Britomart, which carried out the first detailed survey of the Waitemata Harbour in 1841.
As part of the Britomart redevelopment, the Seafarers Building underwent a major renovation in 2014, opening up five extra floors that had previously been used as temporary spaces. Designed by Fearon Hay Architects, the building’s original structure and raw 1970s nature was left intact, while its interior was totally modernised and cultivated.
With restaurants, a members club, rooftop terraces and meeting spaces, every floor offers something truly unique to the 1970s building. Situated right on the water, many floors overlook the beautiful Waitemata Harbour, with the seventh floor roof terrace offering a particularly impressive viewpoint. Levels five and six are available for members and private functions and level four has become the home of the successful Spark Lab.
Level five however seemed underutilised as patrons appeared to be more attracted to levels six and seven, so after several months of negotiations with the Seafarers management I was able to convince them to try a new concept for this floor.
In the past we had run various cook off competitions for clients and architects in our showroom in association with our Italian Kitchen suppliers, Arclinea and it occurred to me that this concept could become a big hit at Seafarers. We got together with acclaimed chef, Josh Emett and designed a large black monolith dual chef kitchen which takes up the entire far end of this floor providing a formidable platform for chefs or amateurs to compete against one another in cook offs or individually cook for dinner parties from 10 – 40 diners or 80 cocktail guests.
Little did we know how successful the new Level 5, now designated ‘The Matisse Room’, would become, with almost solid bookings for the space already confirmed up to Christmas, without it being officially launched.
Seafarers Club members and private clients are now able to book the Matisse Room, which offers an exceptional dining experience hosted by chefs from Seafarers, Ostro, Ebisu and visiting guest chefs – all cooking in front of the diners. This also provides a showcase for the world’s leading kitchen and appliance brands, Arclinea, Wolf and Sub Zero.
Additionally, themed events can be booked, for example Red on Red (a red inspired menu pared with red wines) or “A taste of Italy,” a casual style sharing menu perfect for long lunches or dinner with friends and family. Enquiries can be made at [email protected] or by phoning 09 280 3789.
The room can be configured any way you like by utilising Metrk chairs and the uniquely flexible Pallet table system from Wilkhahn, Germany whereby up to eight 6 seat settings, four 10 seat settings, two 18 seat settings or one 20 seat table can be quickly assembled to fit the space.
Alternatively the two fully equipped identical chef stations can be easily observed from 20 bar stools which surround the cooking island from Arclinea, Italy featuring their latest finish. This big-impact monochrome project, elegant yet functional, with working island and accessorised wall is finished in their new-generation black “Armour” doors and worktops with super matt finish.
Armour is a new hi-tech material produced using high-pressure heat lamination. The surface is obtained with new-age resins treated with a nanotechnology process. Armour is suitable for use on both vertical and horizontal surfaces providing a tough but silky surface touch, which takes the kitchen to new levels in withstanding impacts, acid-based solvents and household reagents. It significantly reduces the bacterial load, making its surface hygienic and easy to clean and is also liquid repellent and anti fingerprint.
With these formidable new assets Seafarers has again reinvented itself by providing a concept that involves picking a chef of your choice to come and cook for you and several friends in a private luxurious setting featuring the very latest technologies and interior design.
Alan Bertenshaw of Matisse International Design. matisse.co.nz