Bavel: A Modern Oasis in the Arts District

Location: Los Angeles, CA (Downtown Arts District)
Designer: Studio UNLTD in collaboration with Genevieve Gergis

The Curation

The design for Bavel was curated to challenge the cliché of dark, heavily patterned Middle Eastern restaurants by embracing a bright, light-filled atmosphere. Housed in a repurposed warehouse, the space serves as a textured canvas where modern elements meet old-world accents.

Our products were selected to complement this "mash-up" of styles and textures. In a high-traffic restaurant environment like Bavel, where natural light pours in through sawtooth skylights, our furniture provides a "light and airy" feel that doesn't overwhelm the intricate decor. Whether it’s the pops of color from our metallics reflecting the vibrant turquoise and saffron accents or the geometric lines of our wireframes echoing the Moorish patterns throughout the space, Bend pieces anchor the room with an effortless, modern glamor.

The Synergy

The synergy between Bend and Bavel lies in a shared commitment to structural language and the "California spirit" of blurring indoor and outdoor boundaries. Bavel’s design uses original industrial elements—like white-washed brick and exposed wood—as a backdrop for lush, cascading greenery.

Bend was a natural use case for this project because our wire furniture functions as functional sculpture. In a voluminous space filled with hanging plants and soaring ceilings, our pieces maintain a strong architectural presence without obstructing the "voluminous ceiling area" or the flow of natural light. They provide durable, high-utility seating for a bustling Arts District destination while maintaining the feminine yet "raw" aesthetic envisioned by the design team.

Copper wire bar stools from the Bend Goods collection in a modern restaurant interior

The Legacy

Bavel opened in 2018 and quickly became a design landmark, winning Eater LA’s Design of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Restaurant of the Year. The project was brought to life by Studio UNLTD, a firm renowned for creating immersive hospitality environments that celebrate both site and soul.

The property itself is a piece of Los Angeles history—an early 20th-century warehouse originally constructed for industrial use. By integrating Bend Goods into this historic retrofit, Bavel has successfully blended 21st-century manufacturing precision with centuries-old Middle Eastern village textures, ensuring the space remains as relevant and durable as the day it opened.