“Curio Cabinet” – Noodle Storyby Yatofu Creatives
In its third collaboration with Yatofu Creatives, Noodle story opened its doors to customers in the center of Helsinki, focusing on their commitment to representing authentic Asian food culture. In addressing the core value of their business, Yatofu wanted to emphasize the client’s own story, told through the handmade noodles and dumplings from their own Chinese heritage. The discovery of how to tell this story in a unique and meaningful way became the focus for the concept of this interior.
The design for Noodle Story is intended to feel both nostalgic and new; something familiar paired with something exceptional. In our initial search of inspiration, Yatofu came across the curio cabinet foundin anantique marketand was instantly captivated by the idea of a single object, which housed many other items, that may not be an actual vintage, yet each possessing their own story, with their own meaning, and existing in their own time.This became the concept for the design of Noodle story: a space with a unique feeling, where visitors can step into the interior of a curio cabinet and find something familiar or something curiousfrom the objects within the interior and may reflect on the objects from their grandparent’s house.
The atmosphere of Noodle Story is cozy and comfortable, with the space divided into the dining area, bar, open kitchen. One’s experience is getting more and more immersive with different material selection and spatial ambiance. The soft oak finish juxtaposed with the sage green section have defined the dining area with warm and open feeling, enabling people to interact with different objects placed within while enjoying the food. The atmosphere of the flexible bar area is more private and gathering, enclosed by smoked oak and mirror material for people to connect with each other. The open kitchen which are intended to engage with individuals, allowing people to feel the process of how food has been translated from the chef's hands to the table.
The new Noodle Story diner has also filled with many installation-like details. The smoked oak surfaces bring a sense of warmth while providing a tactile element; the brass and metal installation on the ceilings add intricacy to the raw black concrete in a minimalistic way. These visually delicate structures continue onto the wall, becoming the mirror and candle installations that interactive with the people and the food.
Chinese food culture is centered around the idea of bringing people together, and the sharing of culture creates a sense of belonging. Noodle Story’s new location not only makes a visual and aesthetic statement, but by combining good food with a connective experience, visitors are able to create memorable moments filled with curiosity and meaning.
Team:
Interior/Branding Design: Yatofu Creatives
Design Team: Angela Lindahl, Yihan Xiang, Sheen Tao, Ketty Kuutvuori
Interior Photography: Aleksi Tikkala
Project Video: Mark Vicuña
Branding and Visual Identity: Yatofu Creatives and Ketty Kuutvuori
Material Used:
FF&E:
1. Dining Chairs - Cross Chair in Smoked Oak, Takt
2. Bar Chair - Cross Bar Chair in Smoked Oak, Takt
3. Pendant Lamp - Cast Pendant, Menu
4. Table Lamp - Como SC53, &Tradition
Materials & Finishes:
Smoked-Oak Stained Veneer, Brushed Brass, Black Oxidized Steel
