25 Jul Breathing new life into Commercial Bay: Kome Sake Bar
As a new and quickly growing precinct in the heart of Auckland City, Commercial Bay has a lot to live up to for its visitors. In an effort to revitalise an older space, the owners of Kome envisioned a vibrant, engaging space for the new izakaya sake bar – one that would reflect the energy of Japanese nightlife.
Spearheaded by Izzard Design and executed flawlessly by Datum Projects, this project stands as a testament to creative vision, meticulous planning, and seamless collaboration.
Striking the right balance
The challenge was clear from the outset: to reimagine a space that would prove visually stunning while adhering to strict budgetary guidelines and operational needs. The goal was ambitious yet focused – to deliver a world-class design that would wow the discerning clientele of Commercial Bay.
Jarvis Dolman, Interior Designer at Izzard Design, was instrumental in bringing the project to life, and worked closely with Datum’s team to ensure every detail was captured in the final result. It would need to not only satisfy the client’s needs, but also the wishes of everyone involved, including the customers and the landlords.
“The landlord’s primary concern was ensuring the new izakaya sake bar would seamlessly integrate with the existing tenant mix within Commercial Bay, both physically and operationally,” Jarvis explained. “Everyone placed a high degree of trust in our ability to balance budget considerations while delivering a high-quality fit-out.”
Choosing the right partner
With a reputation for excellence in fit-outs and a proven track record in delivering high-quality projects, Datum Projects emerged as the perfect fit for this endeavor. Jarvis noted, “Datum’s proposal stood out in a rigorous tender process. It showcased their clear understanding of our vision, commitment to delivering exceptional results, and a high attention to detail.”
Seth Gleeson, Managing Director of Datum Projects, says the team was thrilled to be working on this project. “We’ve had excellent collaborations with Izzard Design before, and this project was no exception. We have the same frame of mind when it comes to delivery – staying efficient, and focusing on top-value execution for the client.”
Like with any project in this quickly-moving industry, success didn’t come without challenges along the way. For Kome, this hurdle came in the form of sourcing the custom light fixtures from overseas. In an upscale hospitality environment, every detail matters – so it was essential that these elements fit perfectly with the concept and feel of the space. The teams from Datum and Izzard worked together closely to ensure that when the fixtures arrived, they would be immediately installed and integrated in a way that would uphold the vision of the project.
The results? Nothing short of excellent.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the final outcome,” said Jarvis. “The space is not only unique, but also a valuable addition to the growing hospitality offerings at Commercial Bay.”
Both the tenant and the landlord have expressed their love for the space – and have indicated just how impressed they were with the high quality transformation of the fit-out. The consciously-designed layout has meant smooth operations for staff and service, while the spot-on ambiance has left customers impressed and coming back for more.
Jarvis added, “Datum proved to be an awesome partner throughout the entire process. They actively participated in the value engineering stage, ensuring we maintained the design’s integrity. Their team demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills and delivered the fit-out on time.”
Ultimately, the success of the project came down to detail-oriented planning, strong collaborative organisation, and a deep understanding of client-focused delivery from both Datum and Izzard Design.