{"id":223279,"date":"2025-11-05T15:05:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T04:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indesignlive.com\/?p=223279"},"modified":"2025-11-05T15:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T04:05:10","slug":"luchetti-krelle-designs-epula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indesignlive.com\/projects\/luchetti-krelle-designs-epula","title":{"rendered":"Epula by Luchetti Krelle: A feast for the senses in Sydney\u2019s GPO building"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Within the magnificent colonnade of Sydney’s GPO building at 1 Martin Place, Luchetti Krelle<\/a> has created something remarkable \u2013 a refined restaurant<\/a> that honours both the grandeur of its heritage<\/a> setting and the convivial energy of European<\/a> piazzas. Epula, named after the Latin word for \u201cfeast\u201d, is the latest venture from Frank Dilernia and the Tapavino Group and their first collaboration with Luchetti Krelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously a retail<\/a> offering, transforming Martin Place into a destination that feels both classically European and distinctly Sydney<\/a> \u2013 a sophisticated dining experience that belongs precisely where it sits \u2013 was no mean feat. Stuart Krelle<\/a>, Principal and Co-Founder of Luchetti Krelle, states: “The brief was very much about European piazzas, town squares and the importance of Martin Place and its pedestrian connection to the city<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether it’s a small meal, a drink, a business lunch or dinner, the restaurant needed to work for all these options while maintaining that Eurocentric approach and atmosphere,” he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The bar<\/a> became the design’s anchor point. Circular in shape and crafted from solid Blackbutt<\/a> timber, it not only caters to the back-of-house areas but, through its sculptural presence, grounds the soaring space. An abundance of spirits and liquors line deco<\/a>-inspired frosted-glass shelves. Behind, dazzling panels of dark amber, copper red and champagne tones conceal the kitchen<\/a> and add visual intrigue. Krelle describes the overhead display effect as having “an almost European-luxe train-travel quality with the scalloped glass.” The Rosso Levanto marble<\/a> bar counter is paired with highchairs upholstered in plush, deep maroon velvet, establishing an elegant material palette that resonates throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restaurant<\/a> unfolds across three distinct zones: outdoor dining<\/a> along Martin Place’s historic colonnade, the main interior dining room and a spacious area that extends into the GPO itself, which can be accessed by the Fullerton Hotel lobby and serves guests with coffee and pastry at breakfast. Featuring deep green velvet banquette seating and bentwood chairs, the effect is intimate and elegant amidst the grand internal volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seating and table arrangements demonstrate thoughtful flexibility. Built-in banquettes upholstered in Mokum’s Panthera Olive fabric and caramel-hued Kvadrat Maharam fabric (Phox by Raf Simons) add warmth and maximise floorspace efficiency. Tables topped with green granite<\/a> can be easily separated for intimate twos or fours, or grouped for larger parties, while high tables provide additional options for patrons. Recessed vitrines \u2013 original wall indentations thoughtfully retained in the design \u2013 house wine storage above banquettes, while intricate paintings from Dilernia\u2019s private collection add charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing the main dining room\u2019s dramatic height was among the design\u2019s most critical challenges. \u201cWe kept the height of the room to let it soar,\u201d states Krelle. \u201cThe custom bar becomes the perceived height of the room.\u201d By lining the walls with rich, walnut-hued timber at a consistent datum, the design visually lowers the perceived volume and creates intimacy. The walls also incorporate tonally discreet acoustic panelling \u2013 a truly successful intervention. The result is a space where you can hear conversation and atmospheric music, creating a lively yet comfortable ambience without overwhelming noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related<\/strong>: Gray Puksand transforms workplaces into learning spaces<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lighting further enhances this sense of considered luxury. Natural light floods through the floor-to-ceiling windows from Martin Place, while the internal hotel lobby provides illumination from the opposite side. \u201cThe building provided the perfect lighting environment,\u201d Krelle notes. Warm light from elegant chandeliers reflects beautifully in the gridded antique mirror lining the back wall, while small table lamps provide perfect reading light for menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive Chef Andrea Grandville\u2019s elegant, cross-continental menu delights with standout dishes including Vincigrassi lasagna \u2013 silken pasta layered with mushrooms, prosciutto and truffle in b\u00e9chamel sauce; a whole flathead in saffron velout\u00e9 dotted with salmon caviar; and the Bavette \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chalote steak with pommes frites and an indulgent b\u00e9arnaise. White-jacketed waiters move seamlessly through the space delivering exceptional, attentive service, while elegant stemware and refined table settings reinforce Dilernia\u2019s attention to detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What strikes most about Epula is how effortless it all feels. Krelle states: \u201cIn hospitality design, you have to hit markers of acoustics, lighting and mood.\u201d There is a relaxed, welcoming energy \u2013 buzzing without being pretentious, quality without ostentation. The design speaks to Luchetti Krelle\u2019s considered approach and the Tapavino Group\u2019s broader sensibility while allowing the GPO Building\u2019s natural opulence to shine. As Krelle reflects, the building\u2019s great bones provided the foundation for layering elegant, luxe details: \u201cRich reds, caramel mustards, deep sumptuous greens \u2013 warmth alongside dark timbers and the velvet adds tactility and sheen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Epula, Luchetti Krelle and Tapavino have created something enduring \u2013 a restaurant that invites you to linger, to order another glass from that exceptional wine list, to return and become part of the ongoing story of this reawakened architectural landmark. It is a space that celebrates civic beauty, place and heritage, making Martin Place feel once again like the Sydney CBD\u2019s vibrant town square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luchetti Krelle
<\/strong>luchettikrelle.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography<\/strong>
Steven Woodburn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luchetti Krelle\u2019s timeless design at Epula marries heritage grandeur with classic sophistication, celebrating the spirit of a European piazza whilst remaining unmistakably of its place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":431,"featured_media":223280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[86,45],"tags":[40272,1164,376,7639,1162,40267,36429,40269,40266,1997,1936,10996,826,1532,1180,147,200,187,2435,40271,787,2705,5105,23308,1163,1525,40268],"class_list":["post-223279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-slides","category-projects","tag-andrea-grandville","tag-architecture","tag-bar","tag-blackbutt","tag-design","tag-epula","tag-european","tag-european-dining","tag-gpo-building","tag-granite","tag-heritage","tag-heritage-architecture","tag-hospitality","tag-hospitality-design","tag-interior-design","tag-kitchen","tag-luchetti-krelle","tag-marble","tag-martin-place","tag-outdoor-dining","tag-restaurant","tag-restaurant-design","tag-restaurants","tag-stuart-krelle","tag-sydney","tag-sydney-restaurants","tag-tapavino-group","home-slides","projects"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLuchetti 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