A quiet tribute to craftsmanship and material honesty, the WatchHouse Hanover Square location reflects Modiste Studio’s continued exploration of modernist ideals—interpreted through a contemporary lens.

 

Taking cues from the clean, refined lines of Poul Kjærholm, the interior balances restraint with richness. The space is defined by a clear material palette: cherry wood in both solid and veneer, stainless steel, custom ceramic tiles by Palet Company, and travertine—each chosen for their natural character and tactile quality.

 

The floor is laid in classic honed travertine, grounding the space in softness and warmth. A counter clad in 5 cm thick standing travertine, hammered to a rugged finish, becomes the sculptural heart of the room. These textures play against smooth brushed stainless steel detailing and the warmth of cherry—a material selected for its rich tone and graceful ageing process.

 

Modiste collaborated closely with Palet Company to develop a bespoke ceramic tile, subtly tinted and uniquely crafted for this project. Elsewhere, careful tributes to the precision of mid-century Danish design are visible in the smallest decisions—down to exposed DIN912 fasteners, celebrating the functional beauty of engineered components.

 

As with all our work, this space is the result of dialogue—with materials, with context, and with our community of skilled artisans and fabricators.

 

We’re grateful to WatchHouse for choosing such a remarkable site overlooking Hanover Square—one of Mayfair’s oldest public gardens—and for the trust they placed in us to shape it with a generous level of creative freedom. Their quiet commitment to quality—both in their coffee and the spaces they inhabit—made for a thoughtful and rewarding collaboration.

​

​

Photography: Mathilde Karrèr
Project team: Marick Baars, Kirill Borisov
Year of completion: 2022

​

​