Desert restaurant serves up sunset-hued design

Project: Prime

Award: Hospitality – Restaurants and Cafes, Gold, 2022

Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA

Design practice: Preen Inc

Client: Gila River Tribe

Prime, a steakhouse based in Arizona, is part of a casino owned by a Native American tribe – the Gila River Indian Community. Located fifteen floors above the Sonoran desert, on the top floor of a casino and resort complex just south of Phoenix, its striking interiors are inspired by the surrounding desert landscape. 
They feature wide charcoal arches and a diamond shaped concrete bar. Materials are earth based, in colours which evoke the tones of sunset in the desert. The restaurant has round tables with steel edges and mirrored tops, and globe-shaped pendant lights. Low walls around the eating area are made from multi-hued rainbow limestone, while seating areas are covered in orange suede. 
It features a grand patio for lounging, dining and enjoying views over the desert. An outdoor living room features a candlelight wall, low cacti landscaping and a firepit. 

Design highlights

A stepped and inverted pyramid hovers over the main dining area. Here the walls are plastered in an earthy rose-tan, with leather and sunset hued limestone dining sofas, rose glass tables and a rust-rose coloured rug.  The bathroom features basins made from glazed lava stone with motion-activated taps which come down from the ceiling.

Photo credit: Brandon Barré