Luxury restaurant concept Kailo expresses the very best in service, function and interior trends within F&B Industry.

Mission.

Our work with Kailo came at an exciting time, with hospitality brands emerging as the next generation of branded powerhouses, able to capture consumer attention in the same way as retail spaces – luxury restaurant design has to keep up.

Launching a successful F&B concept from scratch is reliant on providing the consumer with a fresh twist on an authentic experience which leverages an emerging trend. In Kailo’s case, the strategy team at Formroom established that a gap in the market existed for a luxury, contemporary take on sustainable dining. One which operates in the mindset of the health and wellbeing trend but with the visual cues of a temptingly modern luxury restaurant design environment, celebrating seasonal European cuisine.

We also aimed to reflect the brand’s Roman heritage, originating from its namesake ‘Kailo’ as a form of branding and inspiration throughout the restaurant’s interior.

Approach.

The core message of the brand was distilled into the 3 brand pillars of Quality, Mindfulness and Transparency, which are reflected in all touch-points, from the restaurant menu to the interior architecture. We were thrilled to work closely with celebrity chef Sophie Wright who consulted on the menu, a mix of seasonal, sustainable and botanical sharing plates and cocktails.

Starting with the name Kailo, which is a loose translation from the original Indo-European word for “health,” significant inspiration was drawn from the Roman era, which is evident in multiple aspects.

Formroom’s location sourcing team were lucky enough to uncover a hidden gem; a building located in one of London’s most up-and-coming areas for consumers within the brand’s target demographic. The building was vast in size, and so the challenge was first to segment the space so that it capitalised on the structure in a way that benefited the brand and its mission. In fact, building upon the current trend for multi-functional spaces, we discovered that the brand could showcase a range of service options, all perfectly accommodating different consumer needs from day co-working and fast casual to an evening service more aligned with luxury cocktails and dining experiences.

The grand central bar and sweeping arched staircase anchor the space, taking design cues from ancient Roman courtyards where all rooms would branch from, both bold and totally appropriate for luxury restaurant design. Surrounding this conceptual take on the iconic roman pillar with a bar set with obsidian stone are the dining spaces, a more casual co-working space with a deli serving up fast-casual adaptations of the main restaurant’s menu. To the rear, an exclusive private chef’s table experience.

The various service areas are anchored by a consistent nod to archetypical Roman architecture but always with a contemporary slant. This can be seen in areas like the restrooms, where the peristyle concept of a continuous porch with a central fountain has been re-imagined to provide an Instagram-worthy selfie moment for the digital experience-hungry generation. The rich obsidian stone is omnipresent and complimented with various mosaic, column, or plaster finishes, dependent on the zone. The lighter plaster or tile features are often offset with deeply opulent fabric choices that ensure the industrial space retains a luxuriously intimate feel.

Semi-private booths line one wall, each inset with acoustically engineered materials to capture sound and provide a more intimate experience. The lighting and general fixtures throughout take traditional Roman architecture cues but with more modernist design execution. This is combined with an abundance of carefully selected biophilia of ivy, olive and honeysuckle

The material palette was key in translating both the heritage and sustainable aspect of the brand, inspiring it to source authentic elements from the Roman era, such as Obsidian and Tadelakt plaster which would have been in common use throughout that period. This is combined with recycled stone, marble and Altrock surfaces, with the aim of using 80% sustainable materials throughout the design.

Results.

An exclusive dining space which has been masterminded to emphasise the restaurant’s authentic Roman inspiration alongside their well-being properties, combining together to create a high-end, luxury consumer experience.