Custom stainless steel interior elements for rock-themed restaurant design

Hard Rock Cafe Baku, located on Nizami Street in the Tarqovi district near Fountains Square, required signature design elements that would reinforce its rock-and-roll identity while serving practical functions. IDEA manufactured three custom stainless steel installations based on shop drawings adapted from the Oklahoma Hard Rock Cafe concept: a Gibson Flying V guitar-shaped entrance door handle, pendant microphone lights with wooden bodies and integrated electrical wiring, and a modular band stage railing system inspired by guitar headstocks.

The modular stage railing was engineered as a dual-purpose solution—functioning as a safety barrier when needed, yet convertible to an open performance platform through a tool-free quick-release pin system. Metal rods secure the stainless steel posts in place and can be removed instantly, allowing the stage to transform from a protected elevated area into an unobstructed performance space for live bands. The custom metalwork combines ergonomic design with themed aesthetics, ensuring both audience safety and performer functionality. IDEA's stage railing concept was later approved for implementation in future Hard Rock Cafe locations in South Africa.

This project demonstrates how architectural metal fabrication can solve functional design challenges while maintaining brand identity and operational flexibility.