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Inside a Shrine to Cooking: the Hyundai Cooking... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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I can’t quite put my finger on it, but food has always occupied a rather idealized place both in our imaginations and memory. Whether it conjures the nostalgia of the dining table, flanked by family on Sunday evenings, restaurant hangs with friends, or the swirling euphoria of candle-lit tables for two, tucked in the corner of some restaurant –the name of which you’ve long forgotten, food, in much the same manner that it fills the belly happens to do just the same for the soul. It is certainly this distinct brand of nostalgia that South Korean credit card giant, Hyundai Card, aimed to evoke with a building they call their Cooking Library.

Situated in the affluent Yeoungdeungp-gu district of Seoul, the library is a foodie cathedral to all things analogue, its spaces custom-tailored to reinvigorate memories of a time when the world was that bit more curious, searching, and one that moved to an analogue beat. The Cooking Library is the fourth and, perhaps, most ambitious instalment in a series of buildings that Hyundai Card have recently commissioned. Each building is inspired by and captures a different aspect of life as a central motif, with each fashioned as museum-cum-leisure centres to travel, music, design, and-of course- cooking, respectively.

Behind the wheel of the operation for the Cooking Library were London food and beverage design firm, Blacksheep, chosen by Hyundai Card to compose the Cooking Library’s interior spaces. Working closely with Choi Wook of One O One Architects, the pair were tasked with materialising the ambitious prose of the design brief into stone, metal and glass. Standing as though suspended in mid-air, the Cooking Library’s sharp angularities and thought-provoking forms convey both a boyish confidence and gorgeous eccentricity. Its palatial glass and steel exterior, whilst undoubtedly speaking the language of luxury and sophistication, breaks from the architectural vernacular of its locality. For even the most conservatively minded, it draws you in with new shapes and hidden geometries making themselves known the more you study it. Certainly, if your sense of intrigue invites you to step in- you most certainly will not be disappointed.

We take a tour of Hyundai Card’s Cooking Library’s five, thematically tied floors- whilst navigating this multiverse of all things food, to see Blacksheep’s masterful blending of style, texture, tone, and form to bring the Hyundai Card’s abstract wishes for the space into beautifully concrete reality.

The Ground, Up

The Cooking library experience begins from the very moment you enter the building. On entering visitors undergo a cleanse ritual, delivered through a traditional, cast iron water hand pump and cast concrete bowl, all this set on a brass plinth. Like all things in the Cooking Library, there is a method to this. Texturally mirroring the brass plinth, lettering in solid brass poetically tell of ancient wisdoms:

‘Through water came life, through life came love.’

Cleansed and inspired, you’ll soon find yourself within striking distance of the café, bakery, deli and shop, all located on the ground floor. This area is open to both Hyundai Card members and the general public, offering an intoxicating first taste of the architectural feast to unfold. Blacksheep fashion much of the open-planned ground floor as a sophisticated and upmarket reimagining of a provincial, turn of the century European factory. True to this ethos, it is a hive of activity wherein guests immerse themselves in the space’s interactive and retail outlets. Certainly, so as to make the sale on this look whilst still retaining the Cooking Library’s luxurious stylings, Blacksheep had to distil foundational visual elements of the vintage factory, injecting these elements with a sense of play so as to retain their old-world character whilst still being modern and refreshing.

Certainly, these foundational elements came together to form a beautifully minimalist space. Like the factories of old, the ground floor does away with frills, on the contrary finding beauty in structural elements and the sheer utilitarian stylings of the space. The ceilings are particularly telling of this. Set high and lined with corrugated metal pattern, they act as a somewhat mimesis and tip of the hat to bygone industrial buildings. Suspended from this is a labyrinthine network of lighting fixtures, imported from Europe and a network of fans belonging to the building’s air conditioning system. These are confidently exposed to accentuate the space’s function, factory feel. The entire section is toned in dark grey and black hues, whilst, again, keeping with the thematic arc, also visually mute these elements so as to maintain an air of visual discretion. The basic, lattice-like geometry of the frames featured on the ceilings are similarly assimilated into feature walls- in doing so, marrying the space’s vertical and horizontal elements. The black, silhouette-like look of the metal work, designed so that it naturally patinas over time, elegantly contrasts the searching white-grey notes of the plaster walls. Blacksheep were equally meticulous regarding their selection of flooring. Locally sourced stone, styled in a herringbone pattern, stand in homage to the courtyard stylings of historic, European factories. This is gorgeously played against a polished concrete found as you work your way inwards- a tonal and textural counterpoint to the herringbone stonework whilst keeping within the stylistic parameters of all things old-school industrial.

Though Blacksheep’s factory motif is somewhat rigidly adhered to in the space’s foundational touches, the ground floor is nevertheless boasts a seamless plurality of visual dialogues, drawing inspiration from across the globe as well as various time periods. Take the communal dining area, for example. A clean-cut, Calcutta marble counter is paired gorgeously with four Afteroom bar stools and a spherical, pendant light designed by Michael Anastassiades. United by a common inquiry into uncomplicated, rudimentary forms, they introduce a notably Scandinavian touch into the broader industrial rhetoric of the space. Around the corner, a large cast concrete dining table rests flanked by Mattiazi Solo chairs designed by Nitzan Cohen. Constructed from solid oak, they inject a certain rusticity to the cold, clinical metallic and stone touches that run through the space. Paired with a large print of the Dutch countryside, the wooden textures similarly provide an earthy, homelier feel to the space. Like the coffee bar, the dining table offers a similarly bold inquiry into form, sporting shapes that are playfully explorative, yet tasteful.

The bakery is a true feast for the senses. Blacksheep switch gears here a little with their juxtaposing of styles and forms, injecting a quirkiness and theatrical charm to the space. Herringbone tile and the splendid rusticity of the tables and workbenches on which elaborate displays of artisan breads are set, tell of the spaces notably Parisian influences. Blacksheep took special measures to personally source these items themselves. Set in extremely close proximity to the sharp geometries and stony textures of the coffee bar, the two styles dynamically clash and play against each other in all the right ways. Cylindrically formed, brass pendant lights by the Swedish brand Folc, match with the Corten bands, their radial arcs and golden-hued brass notes similarly play against the right-angles and monochromic greys of the space.

Innovation, by the book

The library, located on the first floor of the building, is nothing short of an analogue playground. For the most part, it keeps to the vernacular established in the Cooking Library’s lower decks, working within the minimalist-industrial visual arc. Blacksheep nevertheless subtly shift elements to delineate that you are in a new domain. The floors are particularly striking. Blacksheep worked closely with British timber supplier Broadleaf to source the end-grain timber from which they achieved the striking, chessboard-like design; the pattern also reminiscent of a traditional butcher’s block. Against this, skeletal shelves, coolly industrial with their blackened steel forms, configure the space into a dizzying network of lanes. This space is home to approximately ten thousand titles, selected by Hyundai Card so as to cover all there is to know about all things food. Running somewhat parallel to the shelves, lanes of modular lights, similarly finished in a cool black, train light to catch the books from an array of angles, heightening the space’ sense of drama and dynamics.

Study desks offer periodic, visual breaks from the labyrinthine cartographies established by the shelves – and- somewhat unsurprisingly by now, these too have been meticulously curated by Blacksheep for the space. The desks, made to bespoke specifications in Korea, all sport Terrazzo tile tops. To source this, Blacksheep worked with Terrazzo tile specialist, Diespeker. Beside its apparent visual beauty, marbled and texturally laden with erratic veining, the Terrazzo offers a new element to the wood and steel vernacular of the library, giving the whole space a roundedness in its elemental feel. Gorgeously foiling these are ‘Tip of the Touch’ lamps by Michael Anastassiades, the elegantly simply, black silhouettes of which make for a beautiful counterpoint. They also pair with the lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling, adding to visual cohesion in Blacksheep’s composition of the library. Dotted around these study desks are striking Kristalia 1087 hide and wood chairs, imported from Italy. Their tan, leathery notes marry with the natural stain of the woods, whilst similarly serving as a somewhat reference to an old-world library visual in one that is defiantly contemporary. Certainly, if you’re after a more casual reading experience, Blacksheep similarly incorporated a Gubi Beetle lounge chair and side table that overlooks the mezzanine.

The first floor is also home to the Cooking Library’s Ingredients House, a glass and metal structure that mimics the form of house wherein hundreds of ingredients from around the world, such as rice bran oil, annatto and myrtle, are gorgeously curated and displayed. This is a space lost in time, and truly feels like -part something lifted out of a Dickensian novel, part historic market lifted from a nether-corner of the world. This said, Blacksheep, and One O One Architects, who collaborated on this, were careful to not fashion it a visual anachronism. The minimalist frame of the Ingredients house, finished in blackened steel with brass detailing, follows the visual cues of the shelving units marrying it with the broad visual carried over much of the first floor. The Ingredients house is a space that invites visitors to satiate their own sense of inquiry and curiosity into the alchemy of food. A set of Solid Oak, Skagerak George stools, complete with olive seat pads, invite them to take their time in doing so, at the same time, quoting the truly global references points that have come together to fashion this bewilderingly curious, emporium-like space.

At the Heart

The old cliché goes that, at the heart of every home, is the kitchen- and certainly, with a name like the Cooking Library, this holds true here also. More than a cliché however, the third-floor kitchen of Hyundai Card’s Cooking Library is a wholly dynamic space. Seminars and book signings by the industry’s who’s who can be conducted here, where guests can also dabble in and out of the Recipe Room to collaborate, share, and practise their love for cooking. With so much happening, there were naturally logistical demands as to the functionality of the kitchen that Blacksheep had to address. Paired with a bold visual style manifesto- this is a balance that, we believe, they’ve struck with tremendous grace.

Whilst part-industrial in its interior choices, Blacksheep fashioned the kitchen as pretty much its own beast. Like the rest of Hyundai Card’s Cooking Library, it retains the sharp angularities and clean, simple forms of typical of the building’s minimalist-industrial stylings. Blacksheep’s emphasis on exposed metallic elements, observed in the kitchen’s various fixtures by the Watermark Collection, in addition to more decorative elements that vein its walls, also establishes a visual continuity with the rest of the building. However, a resin floor, sporting both gloss and patina in places, replaces the wooden and concrete rhetoric of the Cooking Library’s other domains, adding a more rough-around-the-edges bravado to offset the formal intricacy of the fittings. Marble countertops and bespoke, wooden cabinets also introduce naturalistic coordinates into an inherently steely place, coloured by a palette of monochromic tones.

At arm’s length from the kitchen, Blacksheep fashion the Recipe Room as a somewhat alter-ego. The Clark Kent to kitchen’s Superman. Certainly, where Blacksheep orientate the kitchen’s gaze towards a clinical, factory look, the Recipe Room is a homelier space, clad head-to-toe in wooden tones and warmer, welcoming hues. Blacksheep’s work with the flooring is particularly gorgeous. Timber panels are aligned in a herringbone pattern, in much the same fashion stone tiles are on the ground floor. Whilst tying the Cooking Library’s various domains together, it drives a homely rusticity and uniqueness for the Recipe Room at the same time. The Solid Oak shelving operates in much the same way, formally resembling those located in the library, though fashioned as a wooden reimagining of their metal silhouettes. The Recipe Room’s notably domestic sensibilities are also reflected in the central, traditional raft table and sewn leather chairs by the Swedish brand Gemla. Keeping with warm tones and homely, tactile textures, these elements add to the room’s wholesome feel. Certainly, Blacksheep were able to further drive the Recipe Room’s domestic stylings by peppering the space with the paraphernalia of archetypal domestic kitchen; weighing scales and Max Lamb for 1882 basalt accessories are indeed, luxurious imaginations of this. The Recipe Room similarly observed a freer sense of play as to how the space was composed, something that Blacksheep were able to exploit to fantastic effect. A chief example is the Tribeca Harrison chandelier that hangs directly above the table. It’s playful, charming and beautifully eccentric; though it deviates somewhat from the industrial arc of the Cooking Library, it packs personality in spades.

Whilst taking its inspiration from the humble garden shed, the Cooking Library’s Greenhouse is anything but. Glass-framed from canopy to walls, Blacksheep developed it to facilitate outdoor food culture in its full, uncompromised beauty. Vibrant terracotta paving is laid in a herringbone pattern, texturally quoting sun-baked Mediterranean influences. At the peak of its roof-like canopy, A 1700-millimetre dimeter linin feature pendant light injects a steely metropolitan sophistication to this otherwise, functionally pastoral space; with the concrete table, the two pair the Greenhouse with the interior discourses that run uniform across Hyundai Card’s Cooking Kitchen. Blacksheep’s goal with this space was to diffuse indoor and outdoor elements together, seamlessly serving as an outdoor extension to the Kitchen situated on the same floor; a pizza oven and outdoor barbeque certainly captures this move towards outdoor dining culture. Another of Blacksheep’s goals was that the Greenhouse served as a pastoral space, displaying the growing, life-generating aspects of food culture also. Reflecting this, adjacent allotments, and various sections with the greenhouse supply plants, herbs and vegetables to the kitchen, whilst other plants, such as orange trees also serve an ornamental, decorative function. The whole place is beautifully rustic, whilst elements of concrete and terrazzo arc it to the undeniable stylings of the Library.

Lower Decks

Tucked away on the basement level lies the Hyundai Card Cooking Library’s subterranean powerhouse- a professional kitchen that is every part the one you’d find in many prestigious restaurants. High tech yet timeless, the whole room is encased in Crittle reeded glass panels. White tiles, sourced from the British tile suppler, Gestec, pays a homage to the archetypal French kitchen, packing a metropolitan edge with the look’s subway references also. The motif of antiqued metals is nevertheless present; adding an historic depth to balance this space’s unapologetic modern look whilst, again, marrying the kitchen with the rest of Hyundai Card’s visual arc. The kitchen’s underground location makes it a perfect place for the storage of wines, for which Blacksheep embedded oversized displays to the rear wall of the storeroom, encased within the space.

Rounding Off

The Cooking Library is a space that is tremendously hard to pin down, tough to neatly compartmentalise. This is chiefly due to Blacksheep’s diligent attention to detail in the composition of its spaces, allowing the Hyundai Card Cooking Library to transcend singular discourses of it being immediately functional, or professional, or artistic. Simply put, it does all – and very well. One final example of this philosophy is Blacksheep’s incorporation of artwork, which runs through all of the Library’s spaces. All levels boast blackened steel sanitary war and specially commissioned artwork by British artist David Shirley, who Blacksheep were drawn to due to the tremendous wit, humour and wry invested into his work. Whilst adding to a somewhat human feel to the Library, it similarly drove home its focus on all things analogue, in this sense giving the pieces a more vibrant, philosophical role as opposed to merely art for art’s sake. Shirley created five works that interacted with the spaces that they are presently installed in; these include phallic bronze sculptures, set behind glazed walls in the basement toilets and others likewise work, set in other locations. Hyundai Card also feature a balcony art piece from Art Basel on the Library floor.

Brilliantly industrial from the get-go, Blacksheep’s vision for the Cooking Library evidences the countless visual possibilities that can be achieved with intelligent, composed design. Using the basic framework of minimalist-industrial stylings, each of the Library’s domains teases and pulls this foundational formula in a variety of different directions, infusing spaces with international flavours, historical tips of the hat, and, at times, a beautifully orchestrated collage of the two. Many chefs liken the art of cookery to that of dance, both disciplines predicated by conceptions of taste, balance and grace in execution. Blacksheep’s composition of the space in the Hyundai Card Cooking Library undoubtedly partakes in this rhetoric, figuring domains that are spunky, youthful-and all at the same time- elegant and wholly timeless.

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Our 2018 Home Design Resolutions | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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A new year brings the opportunity to reflect and make resolutions to improve you and your life – and now your home! Here at The Idealist we have compiled a list of design dos and don’ts for 2018 to help you enhance your surroundings and everyday life.

Do’s

HIIT (with a difference)

You’ve heard of HIIT (high impact interval training), well this is HIIT for the home (high impact interval tidying). Short bursts of tidying followed by periods of active rest will help you start to sort and organise pockets of your home you have otherwise ignored or hated. Your home should be a place you love so by tackling these problem areas in small bursts at a time is an achievable way to declutter your life.

Be a conscious shopper

An increasing number of designers, manufacturers and retailers are working with sustainable and environmentally conscious products, so be a curious consumer. Find out where and how items have been made and from which materials and techniques. You can do your bit for the planet and have items in your home that look good too.

Rethink lighting

It’s time to upgrade and update the feel of your home through the power of effective lighting. Interior designers often cite lighting as being one of the most important elements of a space as it sets the tone and creates ambience in a room. From statement pieces to lightbulbs and fittings, there are many options available to help you brighten up your home.

Find your style

Make 2018 the year that you stick to your design principles and create a home that truly reflects you and your style. It can seem overwhelming seeing so many products and interior images but, here at The Idealist magazine, we carefully curate ideas, features and shopping finds to help you achieve your #interiorgoals.

Don’ts

Impulse buy

You’ve seen the latest must-have accessory/gadget/peice of furniture for the home but before you rush to buy these think ifit will work with your home as a whole? Take time to research what you want to achieve in a room or particular area rather than buying on impulse.

Have a chairdrobe/floordrobe

It’s time to stop over-piling clothes onto a chair that spills onto the floor. Invest in (or start using) storage that you actually want to use and you’ll see the benefits in your crease-free clothes and a tidier space.

Colour of the year

So, you’ve decided to redecorate in the lastest colour of the year? Don’t rush into making large scale commitments that are essentially a trend (as the name suggests, there will be another one next year). Research how the colour can be used and if it fits with your current colour scheme and home as a whole.

Get tempted by insta-interiors

Before you attempt to recreate a room seen on social media, remember that these are often highly stylised photos that don’t always represent reality. Use these as inspiration and starting points for your home rather than attempting the exact look.

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Breathe life into unused spaces in your home | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Do you have unused spaces in your home? Perhaps there’s a guest room only used a few times a year, a bay window or an under stairs space that could be utilised differently and more effectively. Many homes have untapped spaces, corners and rooms but through thinking about these in a different way, people can live better rather than feeling they need to live bigger. Here at The Idealist magazine, we’ve gathered together some interior ideas to help you tackle those tricky spaces and transform pockets of your home.

How do you use yours?

Think about how you use your home. Do you use every room or are there some spaces and neglected areas? Identify specific needs or wants, such as wanting a specific place for a hobby or a place to retreat with a good book, and see if these can be incorporated in any unused areas.

Redefining spaces

Don’t be afraid to redefine space depending on how you choose to live. Period properties, for example, were built in a very different way compared to how we live today, but breaking away from traditional room uses and taking a fresh look at the spaces in your home can help you work out what you want and need.

Furniture reshuffle

If your furniture stayed in the same place since the day you moved in, try different positions or room layouts to see if it makes a difference. Entrances and hallways can be changed from a functional area to smart welcoming space by adding furniture such as a narrow table or sideboard and smart storage for coats, shoes and accessories.

Reading spaces

A library or reading area can work in even smallest of spaces, such as under the stairs, as all that is required is shelving for books and somewhere to sit. Make use of wall mounted shelves to clearly define the space and a comfy chair and cushion will create an irresistible reading nook for book lovers to escape to.

Home office

Thanks to slimline laptops and monitors, home office areas can fit into shallow spaces such as alcoves and shelf style desks. Clutter kept to to a minimum with clever storage and cable management solutions creating stylish discrete working areas.

Add greenery

A quick and easy way to bring life into forgotten areas is by adding indoor plants as they breathe fresh air into your home whilst removing air pollutants. Plants create a link with the natural world outside and add interest, colour and shape too.

Spare outside spaces

With fewer cars being kept in garages today and an increasing number of sheds being transformed into more usable spaces, many homes have gained valuable extra rooms. These can been turned into office spaces, spare rooms, gyms, utility rooms, studios or teenage getaways to name a few possible uses.

The ideas above demonstrate by making a few small changes, you can maximise the potential of your home, creating new and inspiring spaces that work for you and your life.

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Tiny Homes: A small way to save the planet | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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What have we learned from the tiny home trend?

The trend of downsizing to a tiny home or living as a minimalist is a growing trend in the UK, originating from the US in the late nineties. Regarded as a social movement, it is a way to live a simpler, greener and cheaper life. With numerous headlines citing the UK’s housing crisis and the difficulty for those finding funds for a house deposit, moving into smaller homes seems like an ideal solution. So what can we learn from those who have already made the change?

An alternative to the traditional property ladder

For many people in the UK, getting on the property ladder is a not an option due to increasing property prices and the rising cost of living. The tiny homes philosophy embraces living with what is only truly essential in a property the size of a large shed. These cabin style homes can be built in numerous places, such as an unused garden space, often without the need for planning permission (but obviously in conjunction with the owners: many tiny homes are built in the gardens of other family members for example).

Financial savings

With drastically reduced maintenance and running costs, not to mention the price of a tiny home (from around £10,000), living in a small space is a way to live with less financial pressure or an opportunity to save money. Some people are choosing to downsize from large homes that they simply don’t need to small studio spaces or cabins to suit a less materialistsic lifestyle.

A greener way of life

These small footprint homes are fully insulated and energy efficient making them ideal for those wanting to live a greener life and to reduce the human impact on our planet. This is one solution to creating sustainable homes in our environmentally conscious world.

Minimalist living

Living in less than 40 square metres requires only having essential items and getting rid of anything else that doesn’t serve a purpose. We all live in a world of consumerism but this way of life forces minimal living as there literally isn’t the space for anything else.

Healthy mind

Living with less clutter is also good for the mind, as many tiny homers attest having achieved a simpler, more down to earth way of life. It’s a case of decluttering your home and your mind resulting in greater clarity with every remaining item being valued and appreciated.

Mutlifunctional interiors

With limited space inside theses tiny homes, the interior has to work practically and efficiently. Sleeping areas are often located in otherwise tricky roof spaces as standing space isn’t necessary and clever storage solutions are incorporated into the design with under the floor space and wall surfaces being utilised.

Flexible living for modern life

The tiny home movement isn’t just for those wanting to downsize for financial, environmental or minimalist reasons, it can also work as an extra space for family and friends, students, office space or a potential B&B income. Tiny homes are available in a range of options from build-it-yourself kits to bespoke pre-made cabins ready to be craned into position, proving that bigger isn’t necessarily better.

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Mökki, Upscale living in Astana, Kazakhstan | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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When the name Astana is thrown into the mix of other world cities like Tokyo, Sao Paulo or Jakarta, it always leaves a few heads nervously being scratched: simply, most haven’t even heard of it. And for those that have, it’s considered an eerily unreal place. Amidst countless, hundreds of miles of Kazakhstan’s arid flatlands, with the space’s sense of mystery thickened by tales of secret Soviet weapons testing and the Iron Curtain rhetoric of the Cold War, Astana, boldly reaches to new heights as a beacon for the country’s ambitions. Its streets are meticulously planned, surreally methodical, and neatly compartmentalised so that the entire place’s sense of composition and order is shown in a total, almost aggressive, beauty.

Direct your gaze upward, and the city becomes a chaotic symphony of glass and polished metal, contorted into ever more adventurous forms with each building vying to make a statement grander than the one that neighbours it. Needless to say, Astana knows no such thing as hushed tones when announcing its presence on the world stage.

This said, Astana’s fiercely metropolitan ambition has opened the city’s doors to high-end names and businesses from all over the world, with The Ritz-Carlton being one of these. A name that requires no introduction, this newest addition is a five-star hotel which boasts an elevated location in the city’s Talan Towers, a vantage point from where guests can lose themselves in uninterrupted panoramic views of Astana’s ambitious skyline.

The interiors aren’t exactly shabby either. An ideological mix of the Ritz-Carlton’s reputation honed on delivering with excellence, paired with Astana’s quirkily insatiable appetite for all things, bigger, faster, and bolder, meant that a space, undeniably luxurious and yet laden with the Astana’s brash confidence, and yet, searching sensibility would take shape – Mökki, an elegant restaurant situated in the hotel’s third floor, certainly is this space. We take a tour of this incredible restaurant, observing Mökki’s unique inquiry into form, texture and tone that makes it the elegant, metropolitan space that it is.

Establishing the Style

Mökki’s sense of air and spatial balance is achieved through central, neutral textural and tonal palettes, pairing with the space’s open-planned configuration. A core pack of whites, pastel greens, salmon, and muted browns set the visual tone: a focus on all things, clean, earthy and elemental. Nevertheless, the palette is undeniably complex, quoting both Scandinavian and a New York-tinged Art Deco as visual inspirations.

Matte white walls softly diffuse light whilst offering a delicate visual counterpoint to sublime marble installations. The stone’s natural veining really pops, bringing a typically Astana brand of intensity to the space. Similarly, the floors and ceiling spaces are configured with honey-toned touches. The ashen hues and natural grain inherent to these woods injects an earthiness to the space, playing against, and taming, the richness of Mökki’s many marble accents.

Neatly tying these elements together are metallic gold tinged borders that run the length of Mökki’s walls and ceilings. Often intersecting at sharp angles, these provide the restaurant with a visual and textural edge, whilst its lustrous, yellow-brown hints keep the element within notably elegant and luxurious visual styling.

Poetic Dining

Mökki’s interiors carry Astana’s ambition and otherworldly style of execution. Step into Mökki’s main dining room, and you soon begin to understand this. Uniting the ceiling and against the room’s pillars in a vine-like fashion is a bold, ultramodern timber installation. Pressed so that the piece’s many slats diffuse from, and concentrate at various nodes in the almost alien looking design, gives the whole structure a tremendous sense of play and movement as you navigate through the space.

Adding to the already splendid theatrics of this are light installations, concealed and interspersed between these slats. In addition to the crisp, ambient glow they give the space, the lights gorgeously track the twists and turns of the wood as they move against the space’s many vertical and horizontal planes.

Set against the walls, mirrors are observed in a plethora of shapes and sizes. These range from great rectangular pieces, angled downward so as to gaze back at on-looking diners, to circular pieces, reflecting Mökki’s unabashed inquiry into form whilst also alluding to a certain twenties, Art-Deco nostalgia. Certainly, the mirrors aren’t the only part of the room that sport this Art-Deco look. Chairs and various seating fixtures are upholstered in a mottled, emerald green, which, when paired against the washed burgundy of the dining room’s many feature walls, evoke the colours, scents and tonal stylings of New York City’s yesteryear.

This design arc is carried into the flooring too, where the grain patterns of elegant, light woods are contorted and reformed to mimic the sharp geometries of the Art-Deco tradition. These elements are seamlessly blended in with the vernacularized schemes that run throughout the restaurant, achieving that vital continuity whilst also permitting Mökki’s main dining spaces to capture an energy and bravado that is, like the city, unquestionably, its own.

Parisian Scents

Certainly, as Mökki’s main dining space trains its gaze firmly towards Big Apple nostalgia, its bakery does much the same with the boulangeries of Paris. Long marble islands run the length of the space. The marble’s tone, veining and mineral streaks match that of the marble installations that drape Mökki’s walls, visually pairing the islands to the room and the restaurant’s various spaces. This said, the bakery’s Parisian touches are observed in the details. A wild array of cakes and breads are displayed on wooden boards and elevated on vintage-styled crates, in much the same way they would have been in a traditional Parisian bakery.

Illuminating the bakery’s lengthy islands are bead-like, pod lighting and, darting across the celling, dark silhouette like metal lanes, whilst evoking a vintage, industrial style, are wholly modern in the shapes and forms that they take. Like the form of the marble islands, lines are tremendously clean and do away with stuffy and archaic frills-evidently, a twenty-first century space.

Global Rhetoric

Astana’s, and for that matter Kazakhstan’s, location poises it in a liminal space, somewhere between Asia and Europe. Certainly, Mökki’s stylings reflect this, drawing from both Asian and European art-traditions in the composition of its interiors. The handrails that run parallel to the restaurant’s main stairs illustrate this. With its cylindrical form sheathed in pleated brown leather, drawing in echoes of the Middle East and Asia.

Similarly, lighting fixtures, suspended on leather belts are configured as modern reimaginings of design elements observed in oriental and western schools of design. United by the visual arc of simple tones, elegant execution and a timeless tonal palette, Mökki’s interiors are a melting pot of international traditions, design lingos and visual philosophies.

Rounding Off

There’s no doubt that Astana has big plans for its future, and certainly, the hyper-planned and dizzying metropolis that it fashions itself as today, reflects the city’s steadfast determination towards its ambitions. Mökki’s interiors also carry this energy and swagger. Elegant and classy, the textures and tones leave nothing to the imagination in establishing Mökki as a distinctively opulent space.

Paired with influences drawn from across the globe, the restaurant is a meeting point between styles, design cultures and traditions- much like Astana. Situated on the third floor of the illustrious Talan Towers, with commanding views of the world around, Mökki’s interiors inspire and inquire in much the same vein as the city, a tapestry of intelligent and original design

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Online Christmas Gifts for the interior design... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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The season of giving is almost upon us. If you’re reading this blog you likely are, or love a design aficionado. That makes gift giving extra easy – there are so many spectacular options for design-centric Christmas gifts at all price points. Here’s our roundup of on-trend gift ideas. We’ve divvied them up roughly by personality type – you’ll know best what’s suitable for what type of friend or loved one.

Gifts for the minimalist design lover

Getting gifts for a minimalist – someone who prefers the simplicity of a few perfect possessions – can be tricky. But assuming you know them well enough to understand what they might need, stick to low key colours, luxurious materials and classic shapes. You can’t really go wrong with shades of black, white and grey. This soft grey merino wool and cashmere throw from Loaf could work anywhere, for example, adding a welcome touch of style and warmth. £140

We love the hand thrown beauty of this Leach pottery series from Seasalt Cornwall. Minimalists tend to love carefully crafted objects and these pieces are little masterpieces of textural stoneware made from locally sourced clay. £20-68

Coffee is a great Christmas gift. Both these jet black coffee makers are streamlined design statements, one for slow brewing, the other for espresso. £60/ £70 Add a pound of really good beans and you’re golden.

Danish design firm Georg Jensen has been making iconic metal pieces for more than a century. This stainless steel candlestick holder by Patricia Urquiola is modern and minimal, yet decadent at the same time. If your minimalist is also a collector, the Urkiola Collection includes pitchers, bowls and a tray. £100

For the romantic design lover

Design lovers with a penchant for the romantic are fun to buy for – just think one of a kind design pieces in bling-y materials like gold, copper or crystal. A romantic sensibility will appreciate this hammered brass stool finished in antiqued silver from Lombok, or an extravagant gold metal chandelier for adding a touch of the baroque to the dining room or boudoir. Both are striking pieces that would blend well with or counterpoint any number of decor schemes. £195 / 439

BTW who says romantics can’t have a sense of humour?This Lucy Bryant limited edition print will certainly appeal to those who do. £115

For the reading and design lover

Books are a gift that keep rights on giving. Fans of Scandinavian Interiors will be thrilled with Dorothea Gundtoft’s New Nordic Design. £20 For champions of British design history, consider Elizabeth Wilhide’s comprehensive survey of the William Morris studio. £25 Finally, wordsmiths who also love design will be able to put these 5cm high decorative concrete letters to good use. These tiny treasures make great stocking stuffers. £4.50

For the techhead design lover

Interior design isn’t just about furniture and fabrics. These days high tech functionality for the home exhibits some of the most rigorous design values going. We’ve found a few items that combine great design with technical wizardry that can enhance the quality of domestic life. These voice controlled smart speakers are part of the Sonos home audio system. They’re sleek, black and discreet – typical of the cutting edge Sonos brand. £199

Exemplary design that pays just as much attention to function as form is a hallmark of Dyson, the small appliance manufacturer. Their latest model special edition hair dryer or cordless vacuum cleaner make practical gifts that speak convincingly to the design conscious. £330 / 520

That old chestnut ‘it’s the thought that counts’ takes on new meaning at the end of each year. Gifting a design lover requires special care and a bit of thought – but with so many brilliantly conceived products on the market, you’ll have plenty of options this holiday season.

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Get The Look: How to decorate your home for... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Once the more public expressions of the holiday season are done, focus naturally turns to the home front. Decorating to welcome friends and family for seasonal festivities is hugely rewarding this time of year. And you could do worse than adopt the Danish concept of hygge as your northstar.

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is the term used to acknowledge a feeling or moment as cosy, charming or special. The idea has been impacting home design around the world for several seasons now, largely because it is so achievable.

If your furniture style is rustic, mid century modern or Scandinavian already, you have a head start on channelling hygge as a design strategy. Just add a few Nordic touches – soft blue or forest green textiles, organic greenery, lots of white and red, and plenty of candles. If you’re looking to refresh with new furniture, there are plenty of options for simple Scandinavian-inspired pieces out there.

Here’s our take on Christmas for a Scandinavian style family room – all minimalist cosy comfort for the holidays.

Serving Tables

Start with a few basic furniture pieces. This oak coffee table designed by Danish studio Says Who features classic Scandinavian lines and materials. It’s available with a white table top as well £129 A more contemporary reading might involve this round profile ash version (with a handy removable tray top). £195

Seating

This shapely saffron yellow two-seater sofa is a more European twist on the northern aesthetic (which would typically call for pale cream upholstery). The yellow adds a pop of colour that won’t jar with the rest of a pale Scandi palette – but if you’re a stickler it is available in cream as well. £450

Lighting The Decor

An all-white lighting fixture is not going to fight for attention, and this one’s marble base and adjustable matte metal shade will fit well with any Scandi theme. Use it for reading or task lighting or, augmented with candles and other glowing low light fixtures, for ambient illumination. £235

So, candles. They are an integral element of Scandinavian design, especially at holiday time when they are loaded onto Christmas trees, greenery wreaths and candlabra of all sizes. Real candles on the tree can be if-y, but go for the same effect with these sweet house fairy lights. £21

Add Christmas Touches

We also love this black iron reindeer holder for pillar candles in red or white. £20 And this glass holder for tealights.

Cuddle Up

For ultimate hygge cosiness, stock your family room with throw blankets and cushions in soft colours and cushy fabrics. A monochromatic scheme featuring black, white, grey is a no-brainer, but subtle graphic patterns, as in this lambswool beauty from Loaf, or this iconic red and white reindeer blanket, will fit the bill also. £155/£55

Add a wool blend footstool for shopping-weary legs, a clutch of super soft textured cushions and a lambskin or two for the ultimate Scandinavian chalet fantasy. £102/£23/£50

Final Touches

Finally, seasonal decorations – we’ve saved the best for last. Scandinavian decorations tend to be hand-made from natural, even humble, materials – birch and balsa woods, salt dough, straw – and often feature woodland references. It’s the antithesis of the bling and sparkle that is so abundant everywhere you look at this time of year. Check out these wool-wrapped baubles for a pinch of colour from Habitat. £10-16

Or pile your tree, mantlepiece and tabletops with these charming baubles from John Lewis’ Into the Woods collection –birds, mushrooms, moss – mixed in with homemade ornaments and the living greenery of pine or spruce boughs, holly or cedar. £4-10

Your Christmas can and should be a hygge Christmas – it’s a reminder of the good things in life, like friends, warmth, light, nature and comfort, that we all deserve year-round.

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How to create a home bar (even if you live in a... | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Many of us love the occasional cocktail or glass of fine wine. Others are really into craft beer or fine whiskey. Whatever your favourite tipple, consider indulging it in a safe place – your home. The idea of a home bar may feel a bit retro, but it actually makes a ton of sense during the holiday season (and even more so in the darkish days of slush and austerity that will surely follow).

Dedicate a corner of your living area to a home bar and your friends will thank you. You don’t need a ton of space, just a few smart pieces and some thoughtful accessories. Oh, and the booze, of course. Here are a few of our favourite finds for the perfect cocktail hour setting chez vous:

Establishing a Home bar

While not strictly necessary, having an actual bar is a great way to define your drinking space. We found two wonderful versions at Maisons du monde. This recycled pine stand alone bar can match rustic, industrial or traditional decors. The top is galvanized metal and there are lots of compartments and shelves in the back for storing bottles and paraphernalia. £839 We also love this showstopper that references the colourfully painted trucks you see on roads everywhere in India. £839

Pull up a Stool

Pull up a couple of bar stools – this mid century modern brass and mango wood style from Swoon Editions is simple, stylish and comfortable – and you’re ready to rock. £129

If your place is small and setting up a dedicated bar seems like a questionable use of valuable real estate, you can still design a home bar for wheeling up to existing seating arrangements as needed. Tuck it away when not in use.

Bar Trolleys

This sleek gold-toned Carrello bar trolley is reminiscent of the Art Deco drinks carts featured in almost every Hollywood movie from the 30s and 40s. We love the on-trend gold (paired with metal accessories), but it’s available in less bling-y black as well. £179

The mid century silhouette of the Xanthe black and white marble bar trolley screams martinis, but is sturdy enough to serve the single malt or craft beer crowd just as well. It’s elegance is also versatile – we can see it fitting into just about any existing decor. £349

Bar Necessities

Although not strictly needed for concocting more mundane drinks (just pour already), bar accessories are lots of fun for budding and experienced mixologists. Take a look at this gold-toned cocktail shaker. £25 Or this sleek Deco number. It’s part of the classic Georg Jensen Manhattan collection of bar accessories and would make a great Christmas gift for cocktail nerds also. £30 – 270 Add great glassware, like a set of proper whiskey glasses from Habitat, and you’re set to be an impressive host. £25

Adding a Personal Touch

Decorating your home bar area is a great way to exercise both a sense of humour and a desire to wrap friends in a warm and inviting atmosphere. We’ve found some great ideas for pesonalising and warming up your own personal cocktail bar. Start with some strategic ambient lighting such as this glass table lamp – pink casts the most flattering glow. £20 Or check out fixtures that perform double duty. This word wall decoration leaves no doubt about what’s going on in this location and it casts a soft light also. Or consider this backlit clock for help calling ‘time’. £48/£389

Round out your decor with some clever and gently humorous bar-themed artworks. Photographic portraits of famous drinkers perhaps? Check this stunning David Steen portrait of actor Oliver Reed. £1380 We also love this limited edition Cold Beer print by contemporary artist Eddy Bennett. £435

Ending Tone

Designed with warmth and personality your finished home bar may seem like a dream come true. Enjoy responsibly and organize the space, no matter how tiny, as you would your very own pub or wine bar. In other words, keep things practical with hard-working accessories such as this slimline bar bin. £110 Cheers!

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Get The Look: Comfy sofas for cosy winter lounging | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Each year, we have to face the sad reality that the warm, sunny days are over and the cold, winter days are on the way. As unfortunate as that is, though, winter doesn’t have to be all bad. Winter is a great time to sprawl out with a blanket, some candles, and a good television show, or even bake some cookies.

If you really want to get the most out of winter, you need to make sure you have a great spot for lounging around, and that means finding a nice comfy sofa.

When looking for a comfortable sofa, you should look for a sofa that’s the right height and depth for you. It should support you properly and sitting should feel comfortable. You can also look for soft cushion materials and the right back height, and you have the choice of a straight-back sofa or a pitched sofa.

Sofas don’t have to be fancy to be comfortable. In fact, many of the more low-key sofas are actually the most comfortable. This Slowcouch Sofa from Loaf is a great example; it’s got a soft, puffy fill and a good angle. Loaf describes this sofa as something you sit in, rather than on. It’s available in a love seat, a small size, or a large size.

If you need something that can accommodate the whole family, this wool 4-seater from Habitat fits the bill. It’s got a nice square design that’s perfect if you enjoy a low back height and wide armrests. Plus, it comes in a variety of fabrics and sizes for ultimate customisation.

Some people like to have a bit of extra space when relaxing on the sofa. We love this John Lewis Molly 2-seater sofa because it’s got a spacious design that comfortably seats two people. This is the perfect sofa for two to people to curl up on and watch a nice movie.

Leather-look sofas are always a popular choice for their looks and comfort. If you love the look of leather, try this Arizona 3-seater microsuede sofa from Maisons du Monde. It comes in a two-seater or three-seater and features an oversized club style that looks and feels great.

Sofas are great, but what about when you want to sprawl out? One great way to add a larger seating space to your living room is to get a sofa with a chaise. This Dexter chaise end sofa from Multiyork comes in tons of fabrics, so you can customise it to look exactly as you want. It comes in both right-hand facing and left-hand facing to ensure it fits any living room.

If you have a large living room, a corner sofa can provide plenty of seating while leaving the centre of the room open. This Forde grey fabric corner couch from Habitat provides plenty of seating and a small chaise. Its overstuffed cushions and slightly reclined back make it a nice choice if you’re looking for something cosy in the winter time.

Just like beds, some people prefer sofas soft while others prefer them firm. For anyone who lands on the soft side of the sofa debate, Loaf’s Cloud sofa is an excellent choice. It’s overstuffed, features nice, wide armrests, and comes in 5 sizes and 157 fabrics.

Materials affect how comfortable a sofa is, too. Looking closely at the materials used in a sofa can help you more easily find what you’re looking for. If you’re not a big fan of leather and don’t want any velvet or suede materials, look for a good cotton sofa, like this Butterfly ¾-seater sofa from Maisons Du Monde. Each cushion is generously filled and three throw pillows add to that comfort.

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Hotel EMC2, where art meets science in Chicago | Spencer Thorpe Blog

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Named after Einstein’s famous theory of relativity, this new 21-storey hotel is aptly situated near the Northwestern University’s research labs and medical school and Chicago’s main tech hub. It’s this fusion of science, innovation and art that has driven the design concept through collaborators David Rockwell and his team with Koo & Associates.

The Rockwell Group are used to merging architecture, theatre, craftsmanship and technology to create unique narratives for their work and this project is another trademark example of their style. Rockwell Group Partner and Studio Leader on this project, Greg Keffer says,

“Through Hotel EMC2, Rockwell Group wanted to capture a moment produced by the intersecting worlds of art and science. The design concept we have created celebrates and brings to life their sense of discovery, creativity and innovation and invites visitors to explore.”

An eclectic entrance

Guests are met with the spirit of discovery when entering the hotel lobby with a two-volume centre-piece, an assemblage of bookcases piled on top of each other like an unexplored attic or a modern day cabinet of curiosities.

Book-cased lined walls extend further into the lobby and reception area creating a series of curios nooks and crannies as places of exploration and relaxation grouped with eclectic furniture, overdyed rugs and quirky objects.

Works of art

A curated collection of art from local and international artists lines the walls within the public spaces adding personality and interest to the lobby and restaurant. The backdrop for the reception area is a folding fabric screen depicting a dream-like state of cloud formations, a custom design by Rockwell Group in a bright polished rose gold and glass. Within the lift there are two-way mirrors and a digital art installation of ink dropping from above displayed on concealed video screens.

The Archive lounge and event space

The second floor, accessed by an interior staircase in a bookcase, leads to the Archive lounge and event space. The lounge is a comfortable play space with plush seating and modern furnishings in further rich hues of rose gold and shades of brown and green. A custom oversized vintage steamer trunk opens to reveal a breakfast space in the morning and a cocktail bar at night. To the side, a glass-walled multi-purpose room overlooks the restaurant’s communal kitchen below. This flexible space can be used a dining room with the lounge reconfigured as a VIP or pre-function space for meetings and events.

The Albert restaurant

The double-height 120 seat restaurant is designed to create a lively casual neighbourhood atmosphere made up of cosy grouped seating whilst behind ribbed glass panels, chef’s tables inside a large expo kitchen offer a theatrical dining experience. In the mornings, hotel guests have breakfast here, entering the space via a secret bookcase entrance. The bar area explores the synthesis of science and art with a custom chandelier comprised of glass cylinders filled with infused liquors suspended over a copper and enamel-clad bar with art work in various stages of completion lines the back wall.

Guest rooms

Copper details are continued in the guest room as frames for large artworks above the bed and bathrooms having copper tubing towel rails, vanity unit and a shower head with exposed pipes. A brass phonograph-style speaker, rotating wooden desk drawers and adjustable lamps are also supported by a copper pole adhering to the vintage, quirky, playful design emanating throughout Hotel EMC2.

ADDRESS: 228 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

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