Future projections

Technology lies at the core of Soho's new Inamo restaurant – but the success of the space hinged on blending it in.

In Inamo, Tim Mutton, co-founder of the interior design firm Blacksheep, sees a nod to the future.

Lying in the heart of London's Soho, the recently-opened Asian fusion restaurant takes interactive dining to its next logical level - menus are projected onto table tops so that diners can place their orders, change the ambiance of their space, play games, look up local info and even book a cab, all at the tap of a screen.

The 310m², 62-cover Wardour Street restaurant and downstairs bar is the brainchild of Danny Potter and Noel Hunwick, who appointed Anthony Sousa Tam, a product of UK dining heavyweights Atami, Chino Latinos, Nobu, Hakkasan and Ubon, as head chef.

To complement the high-end ethos of the restaurant, the duo asked Blacksheep to create an interior that exuded warmth, vibrancy, charm and theatre.

As a result, customers approaching the restaurant are greeted with a brand new, jet-black timber façade.

A graphic vinyl featuring solid and translucent star patterns has been applied to the shop-front windows to protect interior light levels, whilst making a strong visual statement and allowing for tantalising glimpses of the inside.

Entrance to the restaurant is via glazed doors, which lead into a small lobby area emblazoned with a high-impact red, black and white graphic. Structural considerations dictated that this entrance area was maintained - the restaurant was once two separate buildings with an alleyway, which was subsequently in-filled, at its centre.

After a 25-year spell as an Italian restaurant, the space required a few structural changes to convert it into a cutting-edge centre of fusion cuisine. Alterations focused on the ground floor and included the removal of columns and a structural wall to open the space up. It also created an extension at the rear of the house, which made space for an additional 20 covers.

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