A former post office in the Saint John’s Wood section of London has been overhauled into new Japanese concept Maido, courtesy of local design firm Child Studio. The concept was informed by the midcentury space’s original look, with the studio blending European and Japanese design influences for the restaurant’s transformation. “Our aim was to rediscover and celebrate the unique history of this building and the neighborhood,” say Child Studio cofounders Alexy Kos and Che Huang. “The post office was built in the 1960s, and our design pays tribute to London’s modernist heritage of that era. The Japanese references are subtle and present themselves through the choice of materials, the play of geometric patterns, and the handcrafted woodwork detailing.”
A central island counter used for sushi preparation serves as the main focal point of Maido. Reflective curved steel paneling complements sculptural midcentury table lamps, while a mix of contemporary and antique furniture creates a dialogue between East and West across the dining room. Dark cherry wood walls are clad with antique brass sconces and outfitted with shallow alcoves that showcase abstract expressionist artwork. A refined geometric motif stretches across the quarry tile floors beneath the suspended coffered ceiling, which also injects a blue hue into the masculine-informed interior. Child Studio also installed a large semicircular glass block partition to subdivide the quiet lounge area from the back of the restaurant and to gently infuse daylight.
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