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Dublin-born restaurant designer David Collins dies

Architect was behind many of London’s most fashionable eateries and bars

Irish architect and designer David Collins who died last night. He was diagnosed with skin cancer three weeks ago.

Wed Jul 17 2013 - 14:30

The Irish architect and designer David Collins died last night from a virulent form of skin cancer diagnosed just three weeks ago.

Dublin-born Collins designed many of London’s most fashionable restaurants and bars including Nobu, the Wolseley, and the bar at Claridges hotel. His private clients included Madonna, for whom he designed an apartment and who was also a good friend.

The Marble City Bar and the Set theatre in Kilkenny are two Irish projects that have attracted attention.

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The men’s convenience at Nobu restaurant, Berkeley St, London, designed by David Collins Studio

Collins grew up in Glenageary and studied architecture at Bolton Street. He moved to London and in 1985, he founded David Collins Studio. The company went on to create the interiors for London institutions such as The Wolseley, Claridge’s Bar, Nobu Berkeley, J Sheekey and The Connaught’s bar.

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More recently, he was hired by luxury names in the fashion world – including Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Jimmy Choo and Alexander McQueen. His work is characterised by his use of saturated colour, art deco and a particularly vibrant shade of blue he remembered from his bedroom growing up.

“David’s death is a real shock,” said Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman on Vogue. com. “As well as being responsible for designing many of the most influential London restaurants and bars of our age, he was a dear friend of many at Vogue. His work merged luxury, glamour and heritage in an inimitable fashion and his company was always of the first and most enjoyable order.”