Willmott’s Ghost

Like building a ship in a bottle. That was our experience when we collaborated with James Beard Award winning Chef Renee Erickson, to create Willmott’s Ghost, located in The Spheres at Amazon Headquarters in Seattle. The Spheres are glass-enclosed domes containing a cloud forest conservatory with thousands of flora from throughout the world, and are the centerpiece of Amazon’s downtown campus. The design team drew inspiration from the unique geometry of the building and the bright, airy environments of modern art museums and galleries. Enclosed within a spherical envelope, the area housing the restaurant proved an incredible - and inspiring - challenge, as much of the architecture is dictated by curves. Curved leather banquettes and booths hug the glass perimeter. Curved walls clad in painted wood pickets define the dining room, and curved bars with Italian marble tops organize the space. Avoiding the tropes of Italian restaurant aesthetics, the architecture and design evoke classical themes written in a contemporary language. Willmott’s Ghost takes its name from the thistle-like flower christened in honor of Victorian horticulturalist Ellen Ann Willmott. It seats around 50 people and is one of only three spaces in The Spheres open to the public.