Etienne Bastormagi Crafts Alica Bakery in Dubai With a Baker’s Touch
Alica’s design layers warmth, texture and light like a perfectly baked loaf, inviting guests into a sensory experience.
Beirut-based designer Etienne Bastormagi peels open the flaky warm layers of baking and finds inspiration for the debut of Alica bakery in the Port de la Mer development of Jumeirah, Dubai. To ignite discussions on land, context and materiality that draws inspiration from local culture, Bastormagi orchestrated the design by forging collaborations with regional designers and artists.
Driven by the warmth and intricacy of oven-born wonders, stepping inside the bakery envelopes you with its honey-hued walls and natural materials to capture and reflect natural light. Wireframe furniture adds a slightly industrial feel to the space without obstructing the luminous haze. Meanwhile wooden tables, shelves and cladding infuse the space with a touch of rustic feel, along with the natural leather used to upholster the chairs.
Rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy, the bakery’s design embodies the owners’ vision through thoughtful details, including a verdant green metal trellis shelf set against a beige wall - adding a vibrant touch while reinforcing a connection to nature.
The sensory depth of the space is heightened by baked pottery pieces thoughtfully placed throughout, adding warmth and texture. Meanwhile, a stainless steel and French oak bench by Studio Etienne Bastormagi serves as both seating and a sculptural element. Designed for flexibility, it accommodates two to four visitors, inviting different arrangements, whether facing the dining area or creating an intimate setting for shared moments.
Mounted on the wall, the custom-designed ‘Super Simple Lamp’ by Post Industrial Crafts highlights the fusion of design and sustainability. Crafted from 100% recycled plastic and 3D printed, its circular form and gradient hues of yellow and green harmonize with the metal shelving, creating a cohesive, eco-conscious aesthetic.
Framing the scene with a deeper sense of sustainability and groundedness, ‘Roots’, an artwork by Beirut-based fashion designer and illustrator Ahmed Amer, unfolds across the wall on textured recycled paper. Its composition captures the rhythmic dance of grain harvests and the quiet devotion behind organic growth. Each stroke and fibre intertwines land, labor, and the cycles of nature, weaving a visual narrative of harmony and sustenance.
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