University of Kent - Dolche Vita

Making the most of Keynes College and its fantastic location overlooking the pond and views of Canterbury Cathedral, we were asked to manage the design and build of a new food outlet in this beautiful setting.

The project involved removing all the internal walls and 75% of the external walls to allow for a large open plan restaurant area, complete with glass panelled walls with views of the outside. To create the best dining atmosphere possible, many different elements had to be thought about including lighting and acoustic controls.

The brief also included a complete ‘theatre kitchen’ where customers could observe the chefs at work. We designed and implemented this using the latest equipment running on electricity as no gas supply was available. We delivered the finished project in 5 weeks and 3 days on site, and opened for Fresher’s week, where Dolche Vita has been a hit from day one with staff, students and visitors alike.