Situated in Portobello Dock, the old Victorian Wharf Building was converted in 2000 and is now home to British chef Stevie Parle’s restaurant, The Dock Kitchen. The eatery offers an experimental modern European menu that has received many good reviews and awards. But it’s not just the food here that’s bound to impress.
Designed by Tom Dixon, the interior scheme leads you through six different carefully planned environments: reception, deli, canteen, kitchen, salon and private dining room. “Each area has its own identity led by the function of the area,” Tom Dixon says. Viewed from across the dock, the Wharf Building is a stunning site. The original Victorian brickwork contrasts with the new expansive glass windows and pitched roofs. In the evening, the warm glow of the interior lighting reflects on the water outside and the building casts a dramatic silhouette against the sky.
Inside The Dock Kitchen, the floor to ceiling windows flood the space with natural light. Teal tabletops and wall lights offset the original brickwork and raw concrete floor. The etched geometric metal ceiling pendants by Tom Dixon add further industrial luxe detail to the space. Original structural features still remain; the rusted beam in the middle of this space is a reminder of the building’s heritage. A new polished concrete floor completes the industrial aesthetic and adds a contemporary touch.
Exposed brickwork meets brass like sheets in a lovely mix of old and new. Uniquely shaped chairs sit in front of the wooden top tables, offering an almost futuristic look. The famous Y Chair by Tom Dixon is good for your back, sturdy and features a striking silhouette to boot. In The Dock Kitchen, its distinctive form reflects the structural beams and trusses. But we argue it’s a must-have in any design lover’s home!
If you’ve been inspired by Tom Dixon’s interior scheme for Dock Kitchen, you should certainly also take a look at Stevie and Tom’s other restaurant collaboration, Craft London (below), which features a lovely teal theme and slick interior. Inside Craft you will find The Cog Cone pendant by Tom Dixon, which is machined from blocks of brass-plated solid aluminium. It will bring the raw industry of the engineering workshop into the home. The pendants can be hung in clusters or individually.
