Chinese eatery Noodle Story has again tapped locally based studio Yatofu Creatives to craft its third location in Helsinki. The handmade quality of noodles and dumplings informs the nostalgic-yet-refreshing design of the 1,184-square-foot space, as does a stately curio cabinet discovered by the team at an antique market.
“It was made intentionally to hold all things that the collector finds curious or connects with. Then it clicked for us that this is the feeling we want to create in the new Noodle Story restaurant,” says Yatofu founding partner Angela Lindahl. “Asian food culture is all about gathering around the table to exchange stories and share in values and experiences. By turning the restaurant into an enlarged curio cabinet, not only can customers find their own connections, but the objects inside can also spark new conversations and the retelling of old stories.”
Stained oak infuses the interior with warmth and moodiness, while juxtaposing harder materials. Across the ceiling, an installation of brass and blackened steel dazzles with intricacy and serves as a minimalistic counterpoint to the raw black concrete elements. Sage green walls in the dining room evoke a sense of openness, and hardware motifs abound across furnishings, creating more intimate focal points as well.
“Noodle Story’s newest restaurant interprets this fascination with authentic food culture through a personal and unique lens. We strip away the generic visual culture associated with Chinese food and focus on the individual’s experience and connection to the space,” adds fellow founding partner Yihan Xiang. “In this manner, everyone can leave with a different impression of the restaurant.”
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