DOTY 2026 Best Commercial Design (F&B – Gold): Nevermore Sdn Bhd – Firewood KLCC

This open-flame dining restaurant at Star Boulevard KLCC designed by Nevermore Sdn Bhd was first featured in Commercial Concept Volume 14.

PRIMAL DECADENCE

Raw industrial intersects with understated luxury to transform steak dining into a ritualistic and cinematic form of indulgence.

Like a ritual shaped by fire, shadow and craft, the dark interior of Firewood KLCC unfolds as a tempting composition, where heat becomes atmosphere and materiality tells a story long before the first cut of meat meets the plate. To complement its open-flame dining destination that specialises in steaks, the space draws its soul from modern industrial luxury with a moody, impassioned soul, based on honesty and elevated through restraint.

Exposed ceiling services trace the architecture’s anatomy, dark steel structures assert strength and concrete surfaces carry a sense of stability. These raw elements are left unapologetically visible, forming a backdrop of urban grit. Yet, within this hardness lies refinement—an intentional contrast where industrial bones are softened by thoughtful hospitality details, transforming austerity into indulgence.

Suffice to say, the colour palette is intentional and disciplined. Layers of deep charcoal, smoky black and burnished brown echo the hues of ember and ash, creating a moody canvas that feels both grounded and cinematic. To soften the landscape, amber-toned lighting comes in. It washes over these surfaces, flickering gently like firelight. It also mimics the glow of open flames and candlelit evenings, as desired. Beyond illuminating, the light over reveals textures slowly, allowing shadows to linger and deepen the sense of intimacy.

At the epicentre of Firewood KLCC lies its most powerful statement: the open flame kitchen. Finished in rust-toned paint, it becomes a living sculpture that feels alive, imperfect and ever-changing. Fire dances openly, turning cooking into performance and craft into spectacle. Above the striking black marble-like chef’s table, an acrylic light box hovers like a suspended stage, framing the culinary theatre below. It draws the eye, anchors the space and reinforces the idea that fire is both function and art.

Materiality continues its raw, industrial dialogue through PU stone cladding that wraps columns and walls, lending weight and texture to the interior. These surfaces feel carved rather than finished—deliberate in their roughness, tactile in their presence. At the bar, stone art emerges as a focal point, grounding the space with a sense of permanence and ritual.

Subtle gestures of luxury are woven throughout. Modern chandeliers and two-tone upholstered chairs with quilted backs line the restaurant. The iconic FIREWOOD neon sign glows against the dark backdrop, branding the space with attitude and unmistakable identity. These details invite guests to linger, to settle into the whole experience, balancing comfort with awe.

In the private dining room, the atmosphere tightens and intensifies. A linear, geometric light slices through the ceiling plane, illuminating the tablescape with precision. Below, candles of varying heights flicker and cluster, amplifying the elemental theme of fire. The effect is intimate, almost ceremonial.

Elevated into a premium dining experience, Firewood KLCC ultimately features an enticing interior shaped by contrast: raw yet refined, dark yet warm, industrial yet indulgent. Urban, masculine and cinematic, the design honours fire not just as a cooking method, but as a primal force. With flames whispering, glasses clinking softly and time slowing down, dining becomes theatre, and the space itself becomes the first unforgettable course.

About the Designer of the Year Awards and Best Commercial Design

The Designer of the Year Award (DOTY) aspires to discover and honour the exceptional works of talented designers from Malaysia and beyond. It sets the benchmark of excellence in design and is committed to championing them in architecture and interior.

The theme of DOTY 2026, “Celebrating Design Intelligence”, highlights how design has evolved beyond mere aesthetics to encompass functionality and sustainability, where user experience, environmentally-friendly materials and technology integration are essential to well-being and efficiency.

Best Commercial Design recognises designers who have crafted phenomenal commercial spaces with brand identity, productivity and well-being in mind. Their projects, which come under various categories, are featured in Commercial Concept.

Visit doty.com.my for more information.