As part of a wider celebration of Japanese culture, London architecture and design studio Soho+Co has launched a portable sake bar in the British Museum’s Great Court in collaboration with Japan House.
Like sushi, now a staple of the al desko lunch, Japan’s national drink is becoming all the more sought-after worldwide – it’s even protected under Geographic Indicators laws in the US, the same legislation that says champagne can only come from one region in France.
The bar itself is composed of 20 hexagonal units, allowing for smooth movement into different arrangements and finished in Japanese sen (similar to ash wood). Adorning the sides of the columns are several illuminated holes, contrasting the bar’s heavy character.
Soho+Co sake bar at the British Museum
‘We were after a multi-purpose, portable structure that was elegant, easy to transport and store, and also flexible in the ways it can be used,’ says Kylie Clark of Japan House London. ‘The hexagons can be configured as a bar to present a wide range of Japanese drinks – from teas and sake, to lesser-known drinks such as awamori and shochu.’
The installation of the bar is part of a wider celebration of Japanese culture in the museum, in tribute to the legacy of artist Katsushika Hokusai (The Great Wave) – events range from shamisen performances and film screenings to traditional chindonya dancers.
Japan House is a culture hub based in London, Los Angeles and São Paulo, aiming to provide visitors with a window into Japanese life. The pop-up bar is part of a plethora of events before they take up residence in the Grade-II art deco building that was once home to Derry & Toms department store.
The pop-up sake bar, designed by Soho+Co, is installed in the British Museum’s Great Court. Photography: Andy Stagg
The modules form various crystalline structures when in use, but can then be packed away concentrically, similar to nested matryoshki. Photography: Andy Stagg
The top surface is finished in Japanese sen. Photography: Andy Stagg
The irregular pattern of illuminated holes across the surface reveals the thinness and lightness of the material. Photography: Andy Stagg
The entire bar can be stored within an area of 1.5 sq m. Photography: Andy Stagg
The bar will be used at various events in advance of the opening of Japan House’s permanent home in Kensington High Street. Photography: Andy Stagg
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the British Museum website, Japan House website and Soho+Co website
ADDRESS
British Museum
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG
-
Formula 1 in photos: 100 memorable momentsA new book, ‘Formula 1: The Impossible Collection’, marks 75 years of the motor-racing championship – a history full of tenacity, triumph and tragedy
-
Kimy Gringoire's heart-shaped cables make for streamlined jewellery designExpanding and evolving her 2021 collection, Kimy Gringoire's new pieces reflect the duality of love
-
Art Deco architecture turns 100; take our world tour of its lesser-known marvelsArt Deco architecture can be found across the globe, a 20th-century genre that influenced all building scales and typologies; and its centenary this week inspired our world tour of lesser-known gems
-
Elle Fanning and Sofia Coppola unite on a Japanese craft gin inspired by the seasonsElle Fanning and Sofia Coppola collaborate on a campaign for The House of Suntory’s Roku Gin – a seasonal blend inspired by Japan’s floral botanicals
-
30 years of Nobu: chef Nobu Matsuhisa on the trials and tribulations of a culinary empireNobu celebrates 30 years of its revolutionary Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. We speak with co-founder and chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa on setbacks, special guests and his love for painting
-
Kioku is a spectacular new Japanese restaurant at The OWO, LondonAt The OWO’s Kioku by Endo, James Bond vibes meet Japanese dining and spectacular London views
-
Spectacular spirits for the season of entertainingOur spirits writer Neil Ridley looks back at some of the year’s most spectacular spirits releases – spanning whisky, cognac, rum and tequila – as thoughts turn to gifting and celebrating
-
Ardray whisky reinterprets Scottish traditions with a Japanese approachArdray whisky is the result of an exciting and groundbreaking collaboration between Scottish and Japanese whisky makers that presents new perspectives on a long-lasting tradition
-
Humo, a new Mayfair restaurant, revolutionises wood-fired cookingMayfair restaurant Humo experiments with different types of wood to create unique and delicious flavours
-
Milan’s Triennale Design Museum spills the beans on the art of food (and food of art) -
Roketsu offers spectacular Japanese kaiseki cuisine in LondonThe new Japanese restaurant in London serves exceptional kaiseki cuisine in an intimate setting for a little slice of Kyoto in the heart of the UK capital
