Danish design studio Space Copenhagen has completed the interiors of restaurant Le Pristine Tokyo, which is headed by acclaimed Chef Sergio Herman and located on street level at Hotel Toranomon Hills in the evolving Toranomon Hills in Tokyo. This is the second Le Pristine designed by Space Copenhagen and marks Sergio Herman’s debut in Asia.

Space Copenhagen was keen to weave characteristics of the hotel’s ambience into the design of Le Pristine Tokyo. Maintaining the original signature features of the Antwerp restaurant and its collaborations with celebrated artists from Sergio Herman’s home region in the Netherlands, Le Pristine Tokyo has also collaborated with Japanese artists, to weave the Japanese aesthetic of Mingei into the language of Le Pristine, relying on the key element of materials and craftsmanship to make that happen.

There is a noticeable design synergy, with a natural flow and progression, between the design of Hotel Toranomon Hills and Le Pristine making it both functional yet stress free. The characteristics of the Le Pristine Antwerp venue also connect to the fabric of the hotel and restaurant architecture, resulting in Le Pristine Tokyo existing as a variation of the Antwerp design while evolving its identity in the Tokyo setting. The Tokyo outpost is intended to introduce the characteristic cuisine of Le Pristine into a highly social and atmospherically refined environment that caters to both hotel residents and visitors beyond. A Maarten Baas host station and chandelier greet visitors on entry. Morphed mirror disco balls by Dutch art collective Rotganzen illuminate the restaurant and the hotel’s adjacent lobby, pulling these two distinct spaces together for a unified guest experience.

Space Copenhagen creative process is underpinned by “Poetic Modernism.” They are human beings in a fast-paced world, which points towards a curiosity and belief in modern ideas; yet, at the same time are drawn to less tangible values such as beauty and aesthetics. Instead of using primarily new and modern materials, they tend to have an almost old-fashioned approach to materials. It is an ongoing love story looking into the possibilities of working with different typologies of stone, wood, metals and different treatments, combinations, and qualities. Rooted in the practice of “Slow Aesthetics,” the studio believes organic materials have the imbedded quality that they age well, and they grow more beautiful and over time, their patina and the wearing tell a story. This is reflected by Space Copenhagen incorporated bespoke tables and sofas within the space.

Due to the pandemic, the hotel and restaurant took seven years to complete, the longest of any project the design studio has undertaken. This challenge was countered by the design studio’s use of slow aesthetics. As the architectural palette avoided using anything too expressive, the hotel feels anchored by their timeless use of natural materials.