Case Study
The Pheasantry Café in Bushy Park, London, gets a facelift with the help of Cosentino
GS Contracts / Article Design Studio
Location
London (United Kingdom)
Installer
GS Contracts
Colour
Eter | Posidonia Green
End date
2023
Architecture/Design
GS Contracts / Article Design Studio
Material
Dekton | Silestone
Application
Countertops
Photography
Adam Luszniak
Nestled in the leafy oasis of Bushy Park sits The Pheasantry Café, a solace for families, dog walkers and weekend amblers in search of refreshment. Owned by Colicci, a family-owned Italian company, it began in 1982 and now has over 30 other fixed sites in and around London including the Royal Parks and key landmarks such as the Serpentine.
One of their flagship spaces, The Pheasantry Café has been newly refurbished, re-opening again in April this year. Contracted by GS Contracts, with the interiors by Article Design Studio, the café has a brand-new aesthetic and carefully crafted menu by celebrity chef Theo Randel (BBC One’s, Saturday Kitchen). With its brands Dekton and Silestone, Cosentino was selected for all the café’s surfaces.
For the main countertop, Dekton Eter from Dekton’s Natural Collection was chosen. This collection takes its inspiration from earth’s basic materials – from Calcatta and Carrara marble to more limestone tones. The series realistically mimics the look and feel of natural stone with chromatisms and veining patterns, but with all the superior product qualities that come from its technical ultra-compact surface.
Dekton Eter’s dark granite structure in black and grey tones, has a strong contemporary feel. With its natural tones, it beautifully complements the counter’s brick base.
Dekton is a sophisticated mixture of more than 20 minerals extracted from nature, manufactured using its exclusive TSP technology that sinters mineral particles making them bond with each other. This means that the surface can withstand the challenges of everyday wear and tear in high traffic areas with ease, whilst ensuring its colour will not fade. Scratch, stain, UV and heat resistant, Dekton Eter also boasts a C02 neutral status.
For the central island, Silestone Posidonia Green was specified. Its beautiful sage green hue effortlessly pairs with the wooden cabinetry and blends more widely with its surroundings – the teaming flora and fauna of the Woodland Gardens.
Silestone Posidonia Green is part of the Silestone Sunlit Days collection, a collection that comprises 5 earthy colourways inspired by the shades of the Mediterranean. Sunlit Days is the result of an iconic collaboration between Silestone and Equilibrio Marino, which looks to save the Mediterranean waters. It is also the first Carbon Neutral collection by Silestone and features the ground-breaking Hybriq+ technology. A sustainable manufacturing process which uses a minimum of 20% recycled glass in its composition.
This holistic space is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With its remarkably green setting and wellness-inspired interiors, The Pheasantry Café sits beautifully alongside Cosentino’s wider commitment to sustainability and ESG policy, paramount for every project within its portfolio. The Pheasantry was also shortlisted for two international design awards.
Commenting on the project, Architect & Designer Sales Manager at Cosentino, Ben Marshall states, “Working with such a prestigious family-company like Colicci has been a privilege. The café’s setting demanded materials that blended well with its surroundings, had a strong design aesthetic and importantly, that had proven durability credentials. In a project that has such high footfall, only products that were exceptionally high performing could be specified. Both Dekton as a ultra-compact surface, and Silestone with its impressive eco credentials, were the perfect fit for this project. We are incredibly pleased with the finished look.”
Commenting on the specification process, Designer and Founder of Article Design Studio, Katy Manolescue, comments, “With Colicci as advocates of sustainable, nature-led design, the material selection is paramount to maintain their standards and position as the leading green-space cafe operator in London. Dekton Eter paired beautifully with our earthy brick palette, as well as providing a durable countertop surface that can sustain extreme temperature changes so as to create an enticing food display. To balance the rich charred tones of the counter we wanted to reflect the surrounding woodland and its dappled shades of natural greens. Silestone Posidonia Green partnered with the natural ash joinery perfectly, resulting in a dining space that seamlessly blends with the enveloping birch trees in the Woodland Garden of Bushy Park."