EST.33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen
EST. 33 Thai Craft Brewery and Kitchen just launched its first US based Brewery in Miami’s premiere luxury mall, Brickell City Centre. Inspired by a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western Cultures, EST. 33 is a tribute to both its time-honored Thai Traditions and the tropical influences of Miami.
When we were first contacted to finish the interior design of what would become EST. 33, construction had paused on the original design and the Ownership team felt it lacked a vision they could rally behind. As the development of the food concept had become more anchored in the complement of both Thai and Western influences, the build out was left feeling very industrial and noticeably flat. Boon Rawd Brewery Company Limited, the team known for Singha and Leo Beers, had wanted their first US based location of EST. 33 to feel warm and exciting, evoking the sensation of stepping into a local Bangkok eatery. They were wary of doing anything stereotypically “Asian” and felt it important to make the space feel rooted in Miami sensibilities while still having an undeniable sense of origin.
With that direction, we started our design process, getting familiar with the brand and analyzing the plans. Almost immediately we realized that while there was a large brewery component, it was being underutilized from the guest experience. After a few conversations with the team and some Singha cold ones, we realized how valuable it would be to enter the restaurant through the brewery – unveiling the inner workings of the space and allowing the guest to really get a good view of the process. Big sliding glass partitions were installed, allowing everything to open up during off hours for beer production, while maintaining visual connection but physical distance for guests while the restaurant is open. This was a huge success and a favorite part of many guest visits is the trip through the brewery.
The interior materials and design felt very industrial, so one of the main challenges was warming the space up while keeping the materials aligned with the vision. Rope became a major component in the design, creating both a ceiling cloud over the main dining space, and softening the columns at the exterior. While it seemed simple enough when designing, the challenge was finding an install team capable of weaving rope into a pre-existing structure. We tapped our large network of installers and assembled the perfect crew. They handled the three-day long installation seamlessly, weaving 100’ long ropes on a scissor lift – a process that would make most a little dizzy to say the least! The Final result was a perfect woven canopy that not only brings the warmth of natural jute, but also fits with the handcrafted nature of the menu.
After hand sketching the weaving pattern from multiple angles, crafting renderings, and working with the install team in Spanglish on site, the final result was a perfectly woven canopy that not only brings the warmth of natural jute but fits with the handcrafted nature of the menu.
We at L&S pride ourselves in our ability to be as flexible as the project demands. EST. 33 is no unique case – while we hopped on board at a later stage, we seamlessly integrated into the team and helped move it along to delivery. With our Interior Design and Procurement services we feel proud putting this completed project in our portfolio.