HOUSE OF BLUES RESTAURANT
LOCATION: French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
PROGRAM: Re-model of existing restaurant space
CLIENT(S): Live Nation
SIZE: 3,500 SF
BUDGET: $650K
STATUS: Construction
PROJECT TEAM: GOAT (Architecture and Interiors, and Site); Batture LLC (Structural Engineering); TLC Engineering Solutions (MEP Engineering); Bandit Lites (Lighting Effects Design); Ryan Gootee General Contractors (Construction)
The House of Blues (HOB) is a national live music and dining brand with a well-earned reputation for fun, funk, and effortless cool. In New Orleans’ French Quarter, it is an irreplaceable fixture in the city’s renowned music and event scene.
House of Blues’ parent company, Live Nation, engaged GOAT in 2019 to re-develop the casual 125+ seat restaurant and bar at the center of their historic Vieux Carre facility. The effort to modernize and enhance the space’s sophistication while maintaining its folk authenticity and funkiness presented a unique design challenge. To achieve this balance, GOAT deployed a palette of rich, warm materials like leather, copper, cork & wood and developed a few moments that take full advantage of HOB’s unrivaled collection of folk art & team of talented local artisans.
GOAT team: Peter Spera III, Colin VanWingen, Alex Swiggum
The space has two primary focal points: a meticulously crafted oak bar and, on the opposing side of the dining room, a custom painted backdrop for live performances & social media posts.
The bar was rejuvenated with a new finish, restored detailing and new 3form accented bottle displays & lighting to highlight all of the millwork’s ornate grandeur.
The performance backdrop was conceived by GOAT as an ode the greatest musicians to ever wield the guitar. An abstracted American flag, the custom mural is composed hand painted representations of the favored guitar straps of some of history’s most iconic shredders.
The re-imagined space brings the iconic House of Blues brand into the 21st century and is befitting its place in the historic heart of the city.
