Aktuelle News & Schlagzeilen

EAW blends audio with luxury design for Melbourne’s Maison Bâtard

To deliver consistent sound across multiple environments, Lucas Restaurants’ Maison Bâtard in Melbourne, Australia, has installed a venue-wide audio solution built on Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) loudspeakers, implemented by Melbourne-based AV specialists Zelo Group, the project’s dedicated concept-to-install technology partner.

Maison Bâtard spans four distinct levels, from the main restaurant floors to the intimate basement supper club, Le Club, and the rooftop dining and bar space, La Terrasse. Zelo Group designed, modelled, engineered and delivered a bespoke system that allows each space to operate independently or together.

“Maison Bâtard is a very large venue for a restaurant, especially in Melbourne, and every level has its own identity”, says Stephen Sokolowski, Design Manager at Zelo Group, adding: “If there’s a performance in the basement club, that audio can be routed throughout the building, or each level can host its own entertainment.” At the center of the design is EAW’s MKC Series, used extensively for foreground music coverage throughout the venue.

The basement-level Le Club was conceived as a versatile performance space. “It’s a lush, high-vibe space designed to accommodate a range of performances, from live bands and DJs to cabaret acts and private events”, says Sokolowski. “For example, during the opening, they had opera singers performing throughout the venue. Every level has its own subwoofer reinforcement, creating multiple performance areas throughout the building.”

Zelo Group’s design approach and close collaboration with architects was required to integrate technology without compromising architectural vision. “The architects generally don’t want to see speakers”, says Sokolowski. “Most of the subs are integrated into finishes or hidden behind architectural elements. The speakers themselves are color-matched to the surrounding surfaces, which required physically disassembling them, painting components and reassembling them to achieve a perfect visual match.”

Zelo Group’s design and project management teams conducted Building Information Modeling (BIM) and acoustic simulation during the design process. According to Sokolowski, the team spent nearly a year refining the system’s layout before installation began. “We modeled the entire venue in 3D before anything was installed”, he says. “Using EAW’s Resolution software alongside other acoustic modeling tools, we validated speaker placement, quantity and performance. That allowed us to demonstrate to the client how design changes - like relocating a speaker or removing a subwoofer - would affect the overall system.”

In addition to simulation, Zelo Group also conducted real-world listening demonstrations to ensure the chosen loudspeakers aligned with the client’s expectations. “Chris Lucas is very focused on the experience”, says Sokolowski. “The vision is that guests can walk in for breakfast, stay for business meetings, enjoy lunch, and then transition into evening drinks and entertainment. Our role is to support that journey by creating an atmosphere that evolves throughout the day.”

(Photos: Liana Hardy Photography)

www.eaw.com

www.zelogroup.com.au

© 1999 - 2026 Entertainment Technology Press Limited News Stories