The former POD restaurant in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood has been reborn as Kpod, a new Korean concept from chef Peter Serpico of STARR Restaurants. Led by Stokes Architecture + Design, renovations transform the interiors into a mesmerizing landscape inspired by the colorful iconography of K-pop. “We wanted to warm the space and bring some brightness and fun into the old design,” says Stokes director of design Lance Saunders. “The old POD is still in there, but it’s been updated in such a way that it feels completely new and still familiar at the same time.”
Neon lighting and paddled waffling along the ceilings was replaced with plywood panels and custom felt flags in gradient earth tones. “The ceiling is a singular element that carries throughout the entire space, so we wanted something with dimension and warmth and softness, hence the felt banners that create this bulbous shape,” Saunders adds.
A wraparound banquette in handsome blue tiling anchors the heart of the dining room clad, and dining pods line the eatery’s perimeter—juxtaposing warm wood tones with vibrant accents of color informed by David Guinn’s mural. Warm woods also characterize the bar area, where newly installed booths and a large custom pink split flap sign serves as the main focal point. Adorned with K-pop imagery, circular dining pods are included in the design as well.
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