Project: Black Bear Burger Restaurant
Architects: B3 Designers
Location: Brixton Village, London, UK
Year 2019
Photo Credits: Tom Bird
The London duo behind the popular Black Bear Burger pop-ups, Liz and Stuart Down approached B3 Designers to work on their first restaurant in Brixton Village, which opened to fantastic reviews in 2019.
The goal of the brand is to present simple, well-done burgers using ethically sourced grass-fed and dry-aged produce. Growing up on a farm, and their work in Canada during ski season propelled the couple into launching their own brand of burgers.
Our goal with this restaurant was to design a memorable, comfortable space that reflected their story. We looked to the British farmlands and the Canadian landscape to build our concept, material and colour palettes. We married this with influences from the local area of Brixton.
The B3 team drew from the alpine forests, canadian ski gear, raw and natural forms, patterns and textures, and the brixton rail surrounding the site.
We visualised the space to offer a social dining experience, with raw timber benches and tables, and waney edged counters.
Lighting plays an important role in adding to the restaurant’s character. We created custom and industrial-style overhead lights along with well-positioned checkered mirrors.
Weathered timber panels cover the walls from floor to ceiling, reminiscent of mountain wood cabins. Bespoke fixtures include copper pipes, and a stacked timber effect with vintage buckled belts on the counter.
Their signature black bear dusted in snow strides across the stretch of one of the walls. We used simple white tiles with coloured grout in the waiting and kitchen areas. The exterior stands out in a steel-blue, with a wooden bench to seat 6 covers outdoors.
