Central Design Studio has whipped off the dust sheets to unveil its latest project – the Korean restaurant Bibigo in Angel, Islington – which aims to harness the creative power currently fizzing out of the Hongdae district of Seoul while at the same time paying due respect to the country’s design history. The materials chosen mix the natural (timber and stone) with the industrial (copper and blackened steel) to create a modern backdrop for a number of vintage pieces of Korean furniture and objects and traditional design elements.
One of the undoubted design highlights are a series of patterned screens, commissioned and shipped over from Korea, that offer a contemporary take on a historical design. A more modern touch comes from the drawing board of Tom Raffield, who designed the lights especially for the project. Open plan eating is the order of the day, but for a more secluded dining experience, book the private dining room. It’s separated from the rest of the space through the use of a solid oak frame (inspired by a traditional Korean Hanok house), glazed and shielded by cloth blinds.
