Stepping into Peridot is like entering a futuristic dream with a hint of the familiar. Occupying the 38th floor of The Henderson tower in Hong Kong, the plant-based bar and restaurant by Studio Paolo Ferrari is an experimental space that feels both cinematic and timeless.

Opened in late October, Peridot is named after the gemstone that inspired its green palette. From the custom mohair seating to the cave-like ceiling, sinuous lines and organic shapes reflect the green hills that encircle the city. Ferrari was influenced by the tower’s glass façade, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, which resembles the form of a plant before it blooms. “There’s a bit of softness to the tower, yet there are big gestures in its form,” says the Toronto-based architect and interior designer. “It’s beautiful and subtle with a forward-looking quality to it.” This balance is reflected in details such as the cantilevered, cast-steel bottle holders in the wine room and the central bar carved from green marble, both of which signal luxury and opulence.

Central to Ferrari’s design was the idea of romantic futurism: “I love nostalgia, but designers have been in a loop for a long time where we continuously channel other eras,” he says. “So we asked the question, how do we create something that is forward looking?” This is where light comes into play. The designer used 20,000 steel-capped light points with frosted acrylic cylinders to create the familiar effect of old-world smoking rooms with a futuristic twist.

Ferrari credits the uniqueness of his design to the creative freedom given to him by owner Cathy Chui Lee and her husband, Lee Ka Shing, the chairman and managing director of the Henderson Land Development Company Limited in Hong Kong. “When you have a client that is trusting, you can be more experimental,” Ferrari says. “I was able to do something that hopefully can stand the test of time but also define this moment in time.”

The best time to visit Peridot is during nightfall, when the soft green tones turn golden. “The lighting almost becomes akin to a contour drawing, tracing the surfaces,” Ferrari says. Greeting the evening with a cocktail in hand and live music setting the tone, this urban oasis is the newest way to experience Hong Kong.

Photographs by Virgile Bertrand. 

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