Blue’s not a colour, it’s a state of mind inside chef Sergio Herman’s new Antwerp restaurant, Blueness.

Danish practice Space Copenhagen conceived interiors for the upscale dining spot on Lange Gasthuisstraat, in the city’s fashion district, combining pared-back Scandinavian sensibilities with Renaissance architecture.

Says practice co-founder Signe Bindslev Henriksen: ‘The design process has been fueled by the fragmented history of the 17th century renaissance building and the ongoing dialogue between the team and the commissioned artists who are central to the final design.’

The space’s classical proportions take centre stage, with towering ceilings arching above carved sandstone and marble columns decorated with ornate patterns. Interventions complement the inherent drama of the architecture, with subtle a subtle colour palette complemented by natural wood, stone, brass and linen elements.

A cast brass Candlelight Chandelier by Valentin Loellmann was commissioned for the space. Its four hanging candle platforms hover above rose-coloured benches and light oak furniture in the 34-cover dining room. In the bar, meanwhile, is a deep red walnut bar by Destroyers/Builders that embodies this convergence of periods, with brushed steel melding with its warm wooden surface. The firm also designed a cast aluminium wait station, which uses the same curving motif and anchors the dining room.

Sergio Herman’s fine-casual concept is similarly eclectic, though classically infused, with modern French cuisine combined with Japanese influences.

Blueness, Lange Gasthuisstraat 11, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

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