Restaurant HEX
Two years ago, chef Annemiek Wils and Studio Piet Boon created a local dining experience with global allure in Oudewater’s most beautiful building: the historic Arminiushuis (1601). Studio Piet Boon was responsible for the interior design and styling of the Arminiushuis and transformed it into the luxurious but welcoming restaurant HEX. Through the design, the studio succeeded in making a link between the present and the past. The historic elements of the Arminiushuis were taken into account here and its natural beauty was restored. In the kitchen, chef Wils takes inspiration from worldwide flavours, prepared using local products. HEX can seat 70 guests.
Before HEX, the front part of the Arminiushuis was home to a typical Dutch bistro. Studio Piet Boon was tasked with putting Oudewater back on the culinary map and transforming the interior into a modern, high-end but also welcoming restaurant, where local business people, local residents and spontaneous visitors would feel at home. We looked at how we could establish a link between the present and the past, resulting in some interesting contrasts. The historic architecture and character of this grand building were left intact, allowing the original beauty to be restored and given a contemporary character.
For the interior design, we took inspiration from historic Oudewater along with the stylistic characteristics of the seventeenth century. So the interior includes some special details. The natural onyx stone table tops are a nod to the ash trays of the old interior. At the front, the hexagonal tables refer to Oudewater’s famous witches’ weigh house and the name of the restaurant.
We decided to include the old courtyard and the back part of the house in the new restaurant too. The courtyard was given a glass roof as well as a green wall with planting and now functions as a connecting element between the front and back parts of the house. The studio was therefore able to increase the capacity of the restaurant from 35 to 70 covers and to retain the feeling of a garden.
The use of colour in the interior is an interpretation of the yellow-gold tone that has its origins in seventeenth-century paintings and the local rope industry. By painting the walls in a subtle shade, the studio has succeeded in creating an intimate atmosphere. The robust natural stone bar, subtle black lines of the frames and the lighting, designed by PSLab, add a modern touch to the overall look.
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At Studio Piet Boon we always put tireless effort into getting to know our clients. It allows us to deliver the most relevant designs and exceed expectations. As we delve into the wishes and the purpose of a project, each Studio Piet Boon design is tailor made.
