Bloodwood restaurant and bar by Matt Woods |

Bloodwood restaurant and bar by Matt Woods

January 21, 2011

We have just discovered the amazing Bloodwood restaurant and bar by Australian designer Matt Woods. Located in Sydney’s former Newtown Conservatory, the interior makes use of reclaimed, recycled and recyclable materials. The owners of the restaurant wanted a sustainably built interior that reflected their menu which is based on minimum waste and seasonal produce.

The restaurants commitment to reuse starts at the sign, which is fashioned from half a wood door, hinting at a theme which continues into the interior where several more salvaged doors are layered to form an acoustic ceiling in the dining room. The majority of the furniture specified for the project was reclaimed, including reupholstered stools and refurbished chairs. Built in elements are constructed primarily from salvaged and reclaimed timber, including a bar near the entrance consisting of several repurposed railway sleepers.

Paints with low or zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds) cover the walls, while LEDs are used for feature lighting. At night, recycled jars hold simple tea-light candles, while the suspended and knotted cables in the dining room support cold cathode long-life compact fluorescents.

Further measures have been taken to reinforce the Bloodwood ethos of minimal waste. Changing monthly menus are printed on recycled paper, the wine bottles are re-blown, and the food served from the kitchen shares the same low waste mentality. Another fantastic example of how reclaimed materials can be used within a commercial environment providing the clients with a colourful and character filled space – Dodo salute you Matt Woods!

Here’s more information about the project from the designer Matt Woods

BLOODWOOD RESTAURANT & BAR – 416 King St Newtown

The three chef owners, Jo Ward, Claire van Vuuren & Mitch Grady, have all come from fine dining backgrounds having met plying their trade at the infamous Claudes in Woollahra. Set within a bar like environment the desire to bring the opportunity for a pretence free fine dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere to Newtown has been the major priority for the Bloodwood crew. As such the interiors have been designed to compliment the inner wests social hubs attitude and are designed to be warm, inviting, interesting and unique.

The inner Sydney urban environment has been reinterpreted through the implementation of reclaimed, recycled, or recyclable materials. Reclaimed & fsc certified plantation timbers & construction waste form feature ceilings, walls, banquette seating and tables. Every seat in the house has led another life before moving to bloodwood and paints have been selected with low or free of VOC’s. Lighting plays a big part in the interior refurbishment with LED’s used for bar and deck features. At night the deck’s mood is enhanced through recycled jars with a simple tea light candle, while the suspended and knotted cables in the dining room are finished by dimmable cold cathode long life compact fluoro’s. De materialisation has been a focus with a conscious effort made to retain and work with the primary structure of the existing building. Further efforts have been made to ensure new interior elements do not impede the natural cross ventilation of the space.

For further information please visit:

Design by Matt Woods – http://killingmattwoods.com/

Photography by Will Reichelt – http://willreichelt.com/

Karen