In an iconic and very active brutalist building in the heart of London, architect & designer David Thulstrup completed the interior of a brand-new Ikoyi Restaurant – founded by Jeremy Chan and Ire Hassan-Odukale.
The new interior reflects the brutalist character of the building and exterior. With a great attention to materials, forms and contrasts, David Thulstrup combined warm natural ginger leather with cold steel mesh and a Catalan limestone floor with warm British oak. The interplay between all these elements put emphasis on the juxtapositions of materials which activate the senses.
Merging materials
Merging earthy rustic hues, oak, stone and oxidized copper, the space offers a warm and contemporary feel. Taking inspiration from the intensity and boldness of the gastronomy, the 150-square-metre restaurant boasts an elegant and sensory atmosphere, creating an urban refuge from the vibrant city bustle.
Featuring FLUX®
Copenhagen-based David Thulstrup integrated various bespoke furniture pieces in the design of Ikoyi. The banquette, chairs and wall panels feature our FLUX® Ginger leather. FLUX® is an OEKO-TEX® certified leather developed in close collaboration with David Thulstrup. It is an innovative protected leather that resembles nubuck with a modern, matt look akin to neoprene. This leather features a velvety-soft surface with a muted effect that’s ultra-modern and matches the aesthetics of the restaurant’s look and feel.
Copper-clad refrigerator
One of the attributes of the newly designed restaurant is a large copper fridge which celebrates and showcases the produce of Ikoyi, where the menu is based on seasonal British production and a spice-based cuisine with a focus on sub-Saharan West Africa.
The designer added panels of a specially designed steel mesh that cover the windows and the ceiling while playfully letting in the sun in the daytime and the streetlight in the evening.
Photos: Irina Boersma
More inspiration
Find out more about FLUX®
Check out FLUX® Landscape to explore a new narrative about design.
