Kailo

Restaurant Design Concept

Link to Project Page on Website

Kailo is an expression of the very best in service, function and interior trends within the food and beverage industry. It’s an exciting landscape, where hospitality brands are emerging as the next generation of true powerhouses, able to capture consumer’s attention in a way usually only reserved for fashion, beauty and tech brands.

In fact, growth in spending within hospitality grew four times faster than retail in 2018, as an expanding millennial spending group tend to value experience over products. This does not extend to all food and beverage brands and we’ve seen a sharp decline in traditional high street names that have not elevated their brand experience to match modern consumer expectations.
Brand Identity + Development

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 existed in the market 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 environment, celebrating seasonal European cuisine.

The core message of the brand was distilled into 3 brand pillars of Quality, Mindfulness and Transparency which is reflected in all touch-points, from the restaurant menu to the interior architecture. We were thrilled to work closely with celebrity chief 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,” the team then draws significant inspiration from the Roman era which is evident throughout all touch-points from the graphic design and interior architecture.

The material palette was key in translating both the heritage and sustainable aspect of the brand, so the team focused on sourcing 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.
Space Planning

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 a different consumer need from day co-working and fast casual to an evening service more aligned with luxury cocktails and dining experience.
Restaurant Design

The grand central bar and sweeping arched staircase anchor the space, taking design cues from ancient Roman courtyards where all rooms would branch from. 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 and 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 were the peristyle concept of a continuous porch with 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 a more modernist design execution. This is combined with an abundance of carefully selected biophilia of ivy, olive and honeysuckle to empathise the authentic Roman inspiration alongside their well-being properties.
Restaurant Interior Designers London

With four decades of experience, our restaurant designers deliver intelligent design solutions and fit-outs for hospitality and leisure spaces. From insight and strategy to interior brand identity, space drawings, design concepts, production and installation, our end-to-end service facilitates everything a brand needs to elevate, scale and reach new customers.