The Jane
Dutch Designer Piet Boon has transformed the interior of a former military hospital chapel, into a bright, airy and contemporary restaurant.
Antwerp’s newest addition The Jane is a cohesive blend of old and new. The ‘piece de resistance’ of the latter category is an oversized starburst-like chandelier, hung from the preserved original ceiling. The sculptural chandelier weighing in at a considerable 800 kilograms, was created for the space by lighting designers .PSLAB. It is made entirely from steel and hand blown crystal glass.
Piet Boon’s Amsterdam studio also collaborated with Studio Job artists on The Janes impressive interior. Paying tribute to it’s chapel origins, 500 colourful glass window panels were created to replace the former stained-glass. Inspired by “stories of good and evil, rich and poor, life and death” the replacement panels feature imagery of flowers, devils and skulls. Combining bold decor elements with the chapel’s high ceiling and restored patterned tiled floor, the restaurant is described by it’s creators as “fine dining meets rock ‘n roll”. Brilliant.
Taking in the space as one entity is joyful, but appreciating each feature alone is also a treat. I’m referring to details such as elaborate skull illustrations that have been printed onto the metal punched loft bar benches, as well as a complementary illuminated skull light that hangs neatly at the rear of the space. The skull has an almost ethereal cobweb like appearance against the wall when it’s not lit up, and once lit it’s yet one more successful quirk on The Jane’s overflowing dance card.
Like an exquisite Day of the Dead shrine, The Jane is bold and brash in it’s macabre themes and motifs but still restrained enough to be elegant. The Jane is authentic, it is functional and it is original. Genius.
