Waterschei, a hamlet in Genk that was populated by farmers throughout time. In 1901, its black gold was discovered by André Dumont: coal. The city of Genk recently bought the mine site and transformed it into Thor. It’s there, at the headquarters of the coalmine of Waterschei, that we put our heads together for a new gastro restaurant: Partaasch.

Why Partaasch? Your probably recognize something: Partager? Charbonnage? Here’s how the name was conjured up:

Charbonnage, as in the French word for coal. It became a key component in the design for Partaasch. The former mine site is the pinnacle of coal and coal mining. We used a lot of black in the interior as a reference to the site’s heritage. To create a rich contrast with the ‘dirt’ of the coal, we added some gold. Not only does it look nice, it refers to the literal gold that was earned with coal in Waterschei.

Black with a touch of gold, it sounds pretty cliché. That’s why we took it a step further. We didn’t go out rummaging for new black furniture. Instead, we bought old items and charred them with fire. Even the artwork on the wall is charred. A heyday for the pyromaniac within us.

Look up! Check out the structure with the lighting on the ceiling of the restaurant and by the bar. Another reference to the coal mine. The structure illustrates the way the miners would strut their tunnels when a new mine drift was driven. The ceiling constructions is custom made, as are the carpets in the lounge.

When dining at Partaasch, a few details will guarantee a dramatic experience. The amuse a ‘coal puff’ is served in a coal shovel. Yet the real eye catcher regarding product design has to be the side table that is used for the sharing platters, a custom-fit design by us as well.

The mine towers have a very particular morphology that can easily be used for the side table design. The design of the tables becomes recognizable and adds a quirky twist to Thor’s history. The dishes on the side table are illuminated by a lantern. A cozy element that takes your dining experience to a higher level.

The mine building is protected. We weren’t allowed to drill anywhere and had to content ourselves with the lick of paint that was already on the walls.

Have a peak of the brand identity we created for this gastro restaurant in Thor Central.