Kiss the Hippo
Designed by award-winning hospitality agency DesignLSM, the interiors for Kiss the Hippo Fitzrovia celebrate the true craftsmanship and precision of minimalist design.
Following on from the success of their first site in Richmond, the design focuses on the exploration of natural materiality and light whilst capturing the ethos of the KTH brand. Adorned in a restrained palette of beech joinery, stainless steel and concrete the space has been designed to give centre stage to the ultimate coffee experience with a bespoke brew bar and curated retail display.
Spread across two floors, the warm and intimate coffee spot features contemporary furniture pieces from Karimoku, bespoke mounted wall lights from Cedar and Moss accompanied by an exceptional sound system manufactured by Dare Pro that has been specially designed in beechwood to blend seamlessly into the rest of the interiors. The ground floor coffee counter built out of 6mm laser cut stainless steel forms a focal point to the space allowing customers to experience the true art of coffee brewing. A retained skylight fills the room with pools of natural light highlighting the warm tones and textures of the finishes.
The lower ground is designed to be as equally inviting with a slatted timber screen corridor leading customers to a light-filled space. A bespoke bookshelf has been constructed to inject a social and community feel with customers encouraged to swap their books and also use the space for reading over a great cup of coffee.
The scheme also provides subtle nods to the original Richmond site with its warm aesthetic and crafted joinery work that alludes to the simplicity of Japanese design.
Design: DesignLSM
Photography: courtesy of DesignLSM
