Willmott’s Ghost — Seattle, USA

Home to Amazon’s headquarters, The Spheres were never going to be mediocre. Comprising three distinct glass dome buildings that contain the online retail giant’s workspaces as well as a sprawling urban botanical garden, the structures in Downtown Seattle have drawn intrigue and plaudits for its centrepiece design.
Now — in addition to twice monthly tours — the public has a new way to step inside the otherwise private campus: Willmott’s Ghost, a new restaurant from James Beard Award winning chef Renee Erickson. Focused on a crowd pleasing offering of Roman-style pizza al taglio and Italian aperitivo cocktails, the menu here is no doubt a big attraction but the real star of the show is the space, with architecture by Heliotrope Architects and interior design by Price Erickson. Named for a thistle-like flower dedicated to Victorian horticulturalist Ellen Ann Willmott, the restaurant takes its lead from the world-class collection of plants that thrive within the climate-controlled spaces around it.
Accordingly, glass and steel are put to good use, offering more than a peek of the climbing forests beyond and bathing the dining room in swathes of natural light. Leather banquettes and booths follow the structure’s unconventional curvilinear shape in a way that feels natural and instinctive, while brass and marble accents paired with white oak chairs, pink Moroccan tiles and original artwork by Ellen Lesperance come together for a wholly contemporary narrative.
INFORMATION
Website
ADDRESS
2100 6th Ave Seattle
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kevin Scott
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Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms
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