The San Diego Architectural Foundation honored Madison on Park restaurant with an Orchid for Interior Design at the 40th Annual Orchids & Onions Awards on October 13 at the Spreckels Theater.
Madison is the first restaurant designed by Anna and David Sindelar, the husband and wife team behind the industrial design firm, ARCHISECTS, and the creative directors at FLUXX Nightclub.
Uniting the space with the right designers was the work of Managing Partner Jeffrey Fink, also managing partner of FLUXX Nightclub, who says, “I knew it would take a very inspired vision to create a design that broke with the current trends in restaurant design. Seeing the awe-inspiring work of ARCHISECT’s at FLUXX, I knew they would infuse Madison with their Fine Arts training and distinct style.”
Madison underwent a dramatic transformation from an island-themed Tiki lounge into a sophisticated, yet comfortable restaurant and bar that pulls inspiration from midcentury modern and Italian design traditions.
Design details: Madison’s exterior is a post-modern and playful replica of Victorian era storefronts seen throughout San Diego. The restaurant opens to a sophisticated bar and lounge and moves into the cedar-lined dining room that includes 25-foot vaulted ceilings. Sky views create an indoor-outdoor ambiance.
Bridging the two spaces is a custom steel and glass door that opens through the use of hydraulic window pistons. When open, the door acts as a roof and skylight, providing a dramatic transition from bar to dining room. The musical background of the design and management team is woven through the space with site-specific rope installations, reminiscent of guitar or harp strings that are used to activate and lower the cavernous arched dining room and to partition the booths in the bar area.
The rest of the cedar-dominated venue is contrasted with colorful geometric wood puzzles that function both as the walls and the art in much of the space.
Madison’s management team includes Managing Partner Jeff Fink, Partner and General Manager Matt Sieve and Partner and Executive Chef Mario Cassineri. The restaurant is located at 4622 Park Boulevard.
