WINNER
Hiden Japanese Curry Lab
by Takagicaperan, for Hiden
In Japan, the word “hiden” refers to a secret recipe which often can boast sharp attention to detail or a blend of unknown spices. In London’s Coal Drops Yard, it refers to a small yellow restaurant called the Hiden Japanese Curry Lab, designed by Takagicaperan.
The “micro space”, as the studio labels it, takes its inspiration right from the food it serves. Yellow walls, lighting and seating have been included to pay homage to the rich yellow colour of Japanese curry. The “lab” styling serves two purposes: on one hand it connotes the exacting precision needed to make a good Japanese curry, and on the other it is functional for staff to work in and clean throughout the day. The space is finished with imported food art, which doubles as a guide to each dish, known in Japan as Shokuhin Sanpuru.
The judges said: “So clever, so singular. Who would not want to visit this hidden treasure? Great response to the notion of the secret recipe, and the 'yellow' of the curry. There’s a nice flourish to the wordmark too. Love it!”
The Royal Oak Ramsden
by Mackenzie Wheeler Architecture and Interiors, for Amy Gadney
Nestled among rolling hills in Oxfordshire, the Royal Oak Ramsden has been serving punters since the 17th century. In 2019, the pub changed hands and came under the ownership of two locals determined to secure its future. Mackenzie Wheeler was asked to provide design proposals to realise these ambitions, working with Nicola Harding Interiors.
The previously “dark and uninviting” dining room has been replaced with a bright and airy asymmetric barn-style space. The room is framed with oak, and focuses attention on rich textured materials which contrast with “controlled areas” of glazing in the roof and end wall. Special care was needed to ensure the original building was the star of the show, and part of the new glazing actually reveals areas of the structure previously hidden. The bar area has also been redesigned, so that it integrates better with the historic nature of the front of house, and four boutique guest rooms have been renovated.
Murray's Cheese Shop & Cheese Bar
by Rockwell Group, for Murray’s Cheese
Cheese has inspired every aspect of Rockwell Group’s interiors for Murray’s Cheese Shop and Cheese Bar. The side-by-side retail store and restaurant, located in Long Island City, boasts cheesecloth-inspired lighting, a cheese cave-informed colour palette, and even a cheese library inspired by the brand’s “state-of-the-art” cheese labs.
The cheese library concept informed the retail side of the project. It features light oak, black and white tiles and concrete finishes throughout. These colder, more lab-like elements are softened with copper and terracotta detailing, which is a nod to the vats and moulds used to make cheese. Over in the restaurant, a long bar anchors the space. It is finished with a green tile and oak tambour accents, oak frame and copper coloured top. The backbar displays replicate the metal grid used in Murray’s cheese caves, and a dropped ceiling gives a further nod to the caves, as well as serving to make the space feel more intimate.
Hospitality Interiors
shortlisted
Hospitality Interiors