Design Triumph For Italian Restaurant In Birmingham

The newly opened Don Salvo restaurant in central Birmingham stands as testament to the committed design and build team that carefully managed this challenging project every step of the way.

Avalon Design, Walker Cotter Limited and Tudorworth Properties were instrumental in ensuring that the Temple Street restaurant was built in less than three months, an impressive achievement when you take into account the difficult location and the striking end result.

“The city centre position is perfect for the restaurant, but the stringent planning restrictions that surround a conservation area such as this created enormous challenges for us,” explains Simon Walker, the project manager. “We also had to work around some serious logistical problems with regards to site access, not least the fact that on the first day of build the street was sealed off to re-lay the surface!”

The lack of space was also a challenge – with no storage area, materials had to be delivered straight to site – a feat of timing managed to perfection by site manager Kevin Lea, of Tudorworth Properties.

The result of carefully resolved landlord issues, negotiations with building control, and immaculate planning and timing, Don Salvo’s is a space with eye-catching sophistication, which draws customers through its impressive revolving doors and sweeps them into the restaurant.

Avalon Design took the circular and spiral theme that begins with the doors throughout the 1100 sq foot trade area. Sweeping curves are built into the four-tier stepped ceiling, and the main dining area is elegantly furnished with rounded tables and chairs. The red, white and green colours of Italy are shown in their more natural incarnations – deep burgundy leathers, pale marble floors and fern green walls.

“We wanted to accentuate the Italian feel, and ensure that the surroundings were in keeping with the top-end Italian menu that the chefs have created, as well as reflect the quality of a well known luxury leather luggage retailer next door,” explains Patrick Casey of Avalon Design.

The glistening chandelier at the centre of the space forms the central focus, whilst carefully placed sliding doors allow a section of the restaurant to become a room for private dining.

The team have worked so well together, and are so delighted with the results, that they are now embarking on new projects where they can combine forces and repeat their successful approach.