NOVECIENTOS GRADOS BY TONY HAWK

Architecture
Interior Design
Lighting Design
Branding and Graphics

The Novecientos Grados by Tony Hawk, a restaurant and bar, has now opened
in the new Terminal 1 of San Diego International Airport in Southern California.
Designed by the Santa Monica-based studio Akarstudios as a theatrical
platform that infuses graphic arts with architectural design. The new concept was developed for the legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and highly acclaimed celebrity chef Claudette Zepeda, as an extension of their concept serving contemporary Mexican cuisine at the airport.

As a flagship component of the new terminal structure, the restaurant and bar occupy approximately 465 square meters within the departures level of the newly commissioned terminal wing of the airport. The multi-faceted venue, with a prominent frontage, features an island bar, a tarmac-facing dining area, and an outdoor patio with views of the city skyline. Taking a cue from skateboard culture of San Diego, the design incorporates skateboards, ramps, and skate-park graphics into the overall design. The open island bar is the centerpiece of the design experience. The architectural design of the bar is conceived as a sculptural form, incorporating a series of sweeping skateboard-type ramps covered with artwork that float above a cantilevered steel canopy and rhythmically rise towards the terminal’s upper ceiling. The bar’s facade features illuminated glass panels adorned with vibrant floral patterns inspired by the traditional Mexican embroidery of the region.

Alongside the organic language of the installation, bold graphics bring a distinctly playful style to this venue. The resulting scheme is a combination of skateboard-inspired elements, local historic inspirations, and street art.

The double-height dining space with its completely glazed exterior, overlooks the airport tarmac and an outdoor terrace. Colorful skateboards printed with abstract graphics of the city’s landmarks punctuate the overhead wood canopy ceiling to create a visual art installation. The strongest architectural feature of the dining space is a structural diagonal brace rising diagonally from the floor to the ceiling. This has been used as a medium for displaying colorful street art graphics without masking the original architectural intent. A wall covering depicting a monochrome rendition of a popular skate park in San Diego acts as a backdrop for the wall separating the dining space from the adjacent kitchen.

The outdoor terrace is a calm oasis, set beneath a fabric canopy with festive light strings. It serves both as a lounge and dining space, offering travelers a taste of San Diego’s climate and skyline views.

The material details include blackened steel, imprinted wood panels, colorful skateboard components, textured fabrics, concrete finishes, and skate ramps that coalesce into pure theater.

Akarstudios created the branding, logo design, and placemaking graphics
for this flagship venue.