A New Helsinki Restaurant by Laura Seppänen Design Agency

Kitchen & Bar by Maannos is the newest addition to the hip Punavuori district in the southwestern part of downtown Helsinki. Located in a historical building, parts of which date back to 1898, and home to different media and creative offices, the new space was designed by Laura Seppänen Design Agency. Honouring both the historical bones of the building and the owners Elmo Luoma-aho and Jouni Rahikainen’s food philosophy, Laura has applied her clean and contemporary Scandinavian design aesthetic. As these images show, the results are stunning!

In order to retain the industrial feeling of the building, the original concrete floor was repaired, and an old brick wall revealed. Remaining walls covered with chalk clay plaster made of travertine stone provide a textured finish, while the and sand, mud and clay tones are a nod to the word Maanos, which in Finnish means the top layer of soil. Inspired by the Maanos food philosophy, the jute carpet and ochre coloured sofa were chosen for their reflection of cornfields, while the green velvet mirrors the forest and blue lakes and sea.

The concrete-jute tables, metal tube lamps by Atelier Areti and storage units made of metal pair perfectly with the raw surfaces, in keeping with the industrial feel. Wooden panelling and restaurant tables made from Jouni’s own forest (located in the middle of Finland) add warmth and a natural element. To ensure a high level of comfort to last through even the longest eight-course menu, Laura chose the the iconic Gubi Beetle chair by GamFratesi.

Executive chef Elmo Luoma-aho describes the menu as “Farm to the table” style food with Nordic and Scandinavian influence. Working closely with local producers, and cherishing the seasonality of Finnish ingredients, vegetables play a leading role with meat often served as a side dish, in an assortment of shared plates for the table.