A new look for Noma
Space Copenhagen reworked the interior of world's best restaurant while René Redzepi watched the Olympics
No stranger to the summer refurb, Noma in Copenhagen has employed the considerable talents of Space Copenhagen (again) to rework the interior of the restaurant. Out goes the taupe, cream and brown interior, replaced by a muted, slick white, grey and black colour scheme. A new oak floor has been laid, along with a new bar and a new, brick wall running through the restaurant. The biggest change is to the lounge area, which has a cosier, "more Nordic", feel. "”It is as if the restaurant has moved 1000 kilometres north," according to chef René Redzepi.
According to Space Cophenhagen, “The complete renovation had to take place while the Noma team was in London during the Olympics, leaving us a total work period of less than three weeks. Time was a challenge in itself, but also the fact that the Noma is located in an old listed warehouse building presented a lot of restrictions."
The designers say that initially they thought that the restaurant "should be turned upside down, that we should do something completely new and unexpected." After an initial sketching period however, they came to the conclusion "that it seemed forced and pretentious for a place like Noma to do something too conceptual or formally upscale - whether it was modern, nostalgic or a combination of the two." They were conscious that René Redzepi had defined his vision and that it was important that the space was not "perceived as a superficial layer between the custumer and the actual food experience".
The chairs and tables in the restaurant are the same design as in the original Noma, but the surfaces and colours have been changed. In the lounge the furniture is all new featuring the new Ren Chair and Sofa recently designed by Space Copenhagen "We felt a great importance in protecting the honest, earthy feel of the restaurant and balancing it with refinement of detail and elegance,” says Space Copenhagen's Peter Bundgaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen. “It was very much about using organic materials such as wood, stone, eather, brass and linen in a new way; materials that age beautifully over time.” Phaidon.com thinks the update is a carefully considered and very successful one. Do you agree?
