ottolenghi spitalfields

Our milk homes’ clients often take us to new houses for a second or third project but its unusual to be taken to a restaurant, so we were delighted when Karl & Yotam asked us to get involved in their newest venture just down the road in Spitalfields.

Milk’s services become really efficient when we are working across all our disciplines and for the restaurant we were able to offer Project Management, Architecture, Structures and a dash of Interiors. We also recommended our favourite restaurant consultants to complete a design team that we knew could deliver the quality that characterises Ottolenghi.

The Ottolenghi team includes the designer Alex Meitlis (www.alexmeitlis.com) who was a playful part of the gang from the start. Alex has been delivering the interiors for the Ottolenghi branches from the outset so carries with him the essential ingredients for their distinctive interiors.

The strong team was absolutely vital in bringing a truly dilapidated Grade 2 listed building with no distinctive character up to the exacting standards of a contemporary kitchen and restaurant. Proactive relationships with the Conservation and Planning Officers at Tower Hamlets, Building Control Inspectors and all the Contractor’s and Suppliers reinforced the process.

Looking back at the work we’ve learnt that milk and Ottolenghi are both businesses intertwined with homes, friendships and long working relationships and so that original invite was not as surprising as it first seemed.

Photography by Dai Williams