A restaurant concept which celebrates West African food and culture.
The restaurant industry in the UK is lacking in West African food. Restaurants spaces often feel far from the inherently social ethos of West African cooking, so struggle to celebrate the culinary culture adequately.
OKRA, instead, is restaurant concept which places domesticity at the centre of its environment by subverting the principles we have come to expect in the restaurant space: here, the customers sit on long tables, next to strangers. Dishes are often served in large sharing pots, where customers can ask for complimentary second helpings, whilst free-to-read books line the shelves.
The visuals balance sophistication with a sense of domesticity, transforming the formal dining environment into one which feels relaxed and inherently social. The use of patterning makes particular reference to adinkra symbology: some symbols with meanings linked to togetherness, unity and sociability are lifted directly from ancient motifs, whilst other symbols were newly created in line with this ethos and visual style. Layering of textures, patterns and colours creates a tactile, immersive environment.