BALEIA RESTRAURANT
with Yellow Goat Design
Photo credit: Sabine Nordberg
Baleia, the latest restaurant from Boston-based Coda Group, brings the flavors and ambiance of Portugal to the New England food scene. RODE Architects designed a dining destination in the heart of the South End that emphasizes Portugal’s coastal European history through a palette of bold colors, textures and patterns. During the design process, Chef Andrew Hebert shared personal photos from his trips abroad to
further emphasize the Mediterranean culture, architecture and cuisine he was trying to capture in this new concept.
Photo credit: Yellow Goat Design
RODE researched the country’s local materials and incorporated vibrant patterned tiles, rich textiles and natural stone to adapt this pre-existing space into a scene straight out of Lisbon. The center of the space called for a special sculptural moment and Yellow Goat Design (“YGD”) was a key collaborator to bring this vision to life.
Yellow Goat Design, an award-winning lighting company, has designed and fabricated large-scale sculptural installations for over 25 years. As a WBENC-certified women-owned business and member of BeOriginal, the team is proud of its bespoke and original pieces found in the commercial and residential market. YGD’s custom design and fabrication process is unique, taking clients from sketch to execution. With offices across the US, Canada and Australia, the team is highly skilled in creating wow moments in any interior.
Photo credit: Yellow Goat Design
Inspired by fishing nets, oyster pearls and copper cookware, YGD worked with RODE to create a dynamic ceiling sculpture for Baleia that is located above the golden velvet banquettes. Built from individual ball chain strands in a rose gold finish, the sculpture suspends from seven separate rings in varying heights, with the longest net measuring over 10’-0” tall. This jaw-dropping installation is the highlight of Baleia’s Instagram and goes beyond a light feature–it draws guests in, creates conversations, tells a story and weaves the restaurant’s narrative together with the other design elements.
Photo credit: Yellow Goat Design
JJ Welch Construction installed this gorgeous sculpture by attaching the central rings to the open plenum ceiling in a discreet and artistic manner. Their attention to detail and delicate hand was critical to the success of this project.
Photo credit: Sabine Nordberg
This “love letter to Portugal” as described on the website, is a beautiful homage to the country’s seafood-forward cuisine, sun-faded architecture and global influence.
Baleia is located at 264 E Berkely Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Visit The Coda Group’s sister restaurants SRV Boston, The Salty Pig and Gufo.
Collaborators:
Yellow Goat Design - Light Sculpture Designer / Fabricator
Baleia Boston - Restaurant
RODE Architects - Interior Designer
JJ Welch Construction - Installer
Designer Monologues the Podcast from IIDA New England with your host Brett Berry is officially LIVE!! On this show, we’ll share the stories behind the design of repurposing, developing and reshaping our communities. Incubated from the minds and skills of New England’s talented design community, you’ll hear how visual inspiration can come from nature, our history, current trends and more as we take you on a story-telling journey behind design.
Check out the latest episode here!
Company Name: McKearney Associates Contract Interiors
Company Establishment Date: 1954
Company Description: Independent Contract Furniture Group serving the six New England states.
Specializing in Workplace, Education (Higher-Ed & K-12), Healthcare, Life Science, Government, & Performing Arts
Meet the Brands: for an overview of our brand partners, click the link here.
Furniture:
Amcase: Casework - Durable, modular, flexible workspaces built for high-performance. Woman owned
Clear Design: an open-plan expert specializing in top-tier bench system office furniture, offering versatile benching, seating, and storage solutions that combine functionality with a sleek, modern aesthetic.
DARRAN: a woman-owned, family-operated contract furniture manufacturer founded in 1977, known for its quality wood desk collections, reception stations, and seating solutions for modern office and corporate environments
ERG: a family-owned contract furniture manufacturer since 1981, designs and builds high-quality, functional, and inclusive seating and tables for education, hospitality, healthcare, and corporate spaces, with a focus on creativity, craftsmanship, and strong customer relationships.
Fellowes: a division of Fellowes Brands that serves the contract furniture market by offering a streamlined source for commercial-grade monitor arms, height-adjustable tables, modular walls, desktop lighting, power solutions, and networked air purifiers.
Formaspace: specializing in custom, durable solutions for diverse environments, from labs and industrial facilities to offices and government spaces, with a focus on tailored design and workflow efficiency.
IOA: family owned and a leader in developing innovative furnishing solutions for all healthcare spaces.
MedViron: designs products that help hospitals and caregivers improve patient satisfaction, simplify cleaning to reduce hospital-acquired infections, and lower ownership costs with durable, high-quality materials.
Nevins: this family-owned American company manufactures and supplies contract furniture for corporate, education, healthcare, and government markets, offering products from tables and seating to storage solutions and accessories.
Sedia Systems: a global manufacturer and provider of fixed seating, acoustic products, and multipurpose furniture for education, corporate training, and public assembly environments.
SPEC: a fully integrated manufacturer concentrating on four key segments of the contract market—Healthcare, Education, Corporate and Government.
Stylex: an American furniture manufacturer specializing in customizable and sustainable seating and furnishings for corporate, hospitality, and institutional spaces.
Tayco: designs modern office furniture that enhances collaboration, privacy, and comfort, offering a wide variety of solutions from workstations to seating.
Glass:
Clarus: The leading manufacturer of innovative glass dry erase boards, Clarus glass boards never stain and can be totally customized.
Acoustics:
Akouo Acoustics: specializes in designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-performing acoustic products, including wall panels and ceiling baffles, to manage sound in various environments like offices, lecture halls, and performance venues.
New England Locations: Come visit us at our Boston showroom at 850 Summer Street—or let us bring the experience to you! As your “Bring It” representative, we’ll meet you or your client anytime, anywhere, making it easy and exciting to connect.
New England Contacts:
Doug Kruse
Principal
doug.kruse@mckearneyassociates.com
860-558-0576
Tim Sullivan
Principal
tim.sullivan@mckearneyassociates.com
617-777-4745
Khristine Duren
Director of Operations
khristine.duren@mckearneyassociates.com
617-269-7600
Charlie Driscoll
Sales - NH, VT, ME
charlie.driscoll@mckearneyassociates.com
508-509-0261
John Stavola
VP of Sales New England - CT
john.stavola@mckearneyassociates.com
860-805-8868
Kristina DeAndrade
Sales for A&D Boston & RI
kristina.deandrade@mckearneyassociates.com
339-237-1109
What is the best part of being an IIDA NE Chapter Sponsor?
McKearney Associates truly values being a part of IIDA NE, not only because of the strong sense of community it fosters, but also for the incredible opportunities it provides to learn, grow, and stay connected to the design side of our industry. The relationships we build, the knowledge we gain, and the inspiration we draw from being surrounded by such talented and passionate professionals continue to enrich our work and strengthen our commitment to the design community.
