Jolie have created a sensory trans continental journey through their interior design for Kitten; Manchester’s latest Instagram hotspot.
Project Kitten
Client kittenrestaurant.com
Interior Design Jolie
Size 270sqm / 56 covers
Location 9 Deansgate, Owen St, Manchester M15 4YB
Year 2022
Photography Billy Bolton
International interior design studio Jolie have used their revolutionary approach to sensory-led interior design to create a trans-continental journey through their evocative designs for Kitten, Manchester’s striking new Japanese Izakaya and cocktail bar that promises to become the most Instagrammable spot in the city.
Located within the burgeoning new Deansgate Square district on the southern edge of the city centre, Jolie has created a fantastical space that exudes the sophistication and elegance of comparable restaurants in London, New York and the United Arab Emirates. Appealing to an affluent millennial-mindset clientele known for prioritising experience over possessions, the design studio has eschewed a purely aesthetics driven approach and have instead utilised sensory zoning by considering the feel, fragrance and soundtrack for each internal area, to enhance the customer journey throughout the space, from morning to night.
Unique within the commercial interior design industry, Jolie is committed to creating community spaces that puts ‘sensory-balanced’ design at the heart of everything they do, collaborating with neuroscientists in each sensory field to carefully source and combine materials and fragrances to craft each environment from the inside out. This signature approach to the design process helps ensure the longevity of their work, by creating socially sustainable and adaptable spaces that encourage interaction and connection, thus meeting the needs of their clients both now and into the future.
“For us, social sustainability comes down to the idea of building lasting communities that nourish people and the planet, and nurturing spaces that improve collaboration, connection, and wellbeing,” says Founder and CEO Franky Rousell. “When we design spaces such as Kitten we not only incorporate sustainable practices and elements, but take it a step further by influencing behaviours that promote a Jolie socially and environmentally sustainable future landscape. We want to lead with authenticity in our developments, weaving responsible choices into every decision, stage, and feature.”
In a post-pandemic era where experiential travel is highly desired but not always attainable, the transformative nature of wanderlust became a key component of Jolie’s design approach to Kitten. The studio wanted to infuse the space with a sense of culture and destination-driven dining without drawing upon tired clichés and caricatured design. Instead they adopted a quintessentially Japanese approach by crafting a holistic and sensual environment that feels both fresh and contemporary, yet culturally ambiguous - and therefore easily adaptable long into the future. The towering 5 metre Bonsai tree and bamboo-clad back wall of the front lounge area offer the only direct material nods to the restaurant’s current cuisine.
Echoing the splendour of the 200 metre-high skyscraper in which it sits, the cavernous interior of Kitten inspires awe and wonder from the moment guests step through the triple height entryway. Huge archways on the wall behind the central bar offer a cathedral-like “higher power” experience, clad in a neutral tone marble that exudes a sense of prestige and wealth and forms an impressive backdrop to the bar where the crafting of sushi and cocktails - aka ‘the magic’ - happens.
“The food and cocktail offering of Kitten is really innovative,” says Rousell, “and we really wanted to draw people’s attention to that. We’ve then softened this sense of grandeur in other areas by using a more natural and down-to-earth palette, particularly at the rear of the restaurant where we want people to linger, so that the experience is all about a shared coming together over food. For example, we’ve maintained the same archway silhouettes for visual continuity, but with a plaster finish that makes the space feel more grounded and comfortable. The use of leather upholstery is reassuring and gentle, like the human touch, while the plush velvet of the armchairs has been incorporated to promote open and meaningful conversation.”
“We've been quite clever with how we want people to behave throughout the different internal spaces by changing up that materiality,” says Rousell, “and, in turn, softening that feeling of initial impressiveness as you walk through into comfort by introducing plenty of wood tones, which is psychologically one of the most reassuring materials because of its inherent connection to nature.”
A scent profile of amber (calming), incense (inspiring) and patchouli (uplifting) has been devised by Jolie for use throughout the interior to help unify each of the internal areas, while a soundtrack of Tropical Bird Club and Japanese Tech has been compiled to showcase the cultural narrative of the restaurant’s food and drink offering.
About Jolie
Founded in 2018, Jolie is a full-service interior design studio, working in the commercial & hospitality sector. In an age of real-world social disconnect where screens demand our attention and fast-moving trends drive the physical world we inhabit, Jolie focuses on the power of real, emotionally-driven experiences that can be influenced by environment and interior space. Their research focuses on human behaviour related to sensory experience; collaborating with neuroscientists in each sensory field, Jolie carefully sources and combines materials and fragrances to imagine each interior. As a young team, Jolie bring a unique perspective to the world of interior design, embodying the millennial mindset to create spaces where individuals of all ages and backgrounds thrive. Acting as interior consultants or principal designers, Jolie collaborate with contractors, architects, suppliers and project managers to deliver from concept to construction.
About Kitten
Kitten is a Japanese Izakaya and cocktail bar recently opened in Manchester’s Deansgate Square and set to become its flagship destination. Headed up by Josh Gabrielides, formerly of Ivy Asia, and Head Sushi Chef Daniel Zhou, formerly of Peter Street Kitchen, the team also boasts experience from Sticks and Sushi and other top ranked Pan-Asian restaurants around the country. Taking centre stage in the venue, the extensive raw menu features a selection of freshly made dishes including black and blue tuna with pickled kohlrabi and squid ink tuille.
About Deansgate Square
Deansgate Square is the latest residential development by Renaker, comprising 1,508 elegant spacious apartments across four carefully designed towers to deliver a new level of city centre living to Manchester. With the four towers and main concierge now complete, works are ongoing on the extensive public realm, The Square, which will deliver a central plaza and extensive landscaping that make the most of the riverside location, designed to be enjoyed by residents and the wider local community. Alongside Kitten, Jolie has also designed the club and tearoom at Deansgate Square, which were shortlisted for Best Leisure Interior at the Dezeen Awards 2021.
Project Kitten
Client kittenrestaurant.com
Interior Design Jolie
Size 270sqm / 56 covers
Location 9 Deansgate, Owen St, Manchester M15 4YB
Year 2022
Photography Billy Bolton
International interior design studio Jolie have used their revolutionary approach to sensory-led interior design to create a trans-continental journey through their evocative designs for Kitten, Manchester’s striking new Japanese Izakaya and cocktail bar that promises to become the most Instagrammable spot in the city.
Located within the burgeoning new Deansgate Square district on the southern edge of the city centre, Jolie has created a fantastical space that exudes the sophistication and elegance of comparable restaurants in London, New York and the United Arab Emirates. Appealing to an affluent millennial-mindset clientele known for prioritising experience over possessions, the design studio has eschewed a purely aesthetics driven approach and have instead utilised sensory zoning by considering the feel, fragrance and soundtrack for each internal area, to enhance the customer journey throughout the space, from morning to night.
Unique within the commercial interior design industry, Jolie is committed to creating community spaces that puts ‘sensory-balanced’ design at the heart of everything they do, collaborating with neuroscientists in each sensory field to carefully source and combine materials and fragrances to craft each environment from the inside out. This signature approach to the design process helps ensure the longevity of their work, by creating socially sustainable and adaptable spaces that encourage interaction and connection, thus meeting the needs of their clients both now and into the future.
“For us, social sustainability comes down to the idea of building lasting communities that nourish people and the planet, and nurturing spaces that improve collaboration, connection, and wellbeing,” says Founder and CEO Franky Rousell. “When we design spaces such as Kitten we not only incorporate sustainable practices and elements, but take it a step further by influencing behaviours that promote a Jolie socially and environmentally sustainable future landscape. We want to lead with authenticity in our developments, weaving responsible choices into every decision, stage, and feature.”
In a post-pandemic era where experiential travel is highly desired but not always attainable, the transformative nature of wanderlust became a key component of Jolie’s design approach to Kitten. The studio wanted to infuse the space with a sense of culture and destination-driven dining without drawing upon tired clichés and caricatured design. Instead they adopted a quintessentially Japanese approach by crafting a holistic and sensual environment that feels both fresh and contemporary, yet culturally ambiguous - and therefore easily adaptable long into the future. The towering 5 metre Bonsai tree and bamboo-clad back wall of the front lounge area offer the only direct material nods to the restaurant’s current cuisine.
Echoing the splendour of the 200 metre-high skyscraper in which it sits, the cavernous interior of Kitten inspires awe and wonder from the moment guests step through the triple height entryway. Huge archways on the wall behind the central bar offer a cathedral-like “higher power” experience, clad in a neutral tone marble that exudes a sense of prestige and wealth and forms an impressive backdrop to the bar where the crafting of sushi and cocktails - aka ‘the magic’ - happens.
“The food and cocktail offering of Kitten is really innovative,” says Rousell, “and we really wanted to draw people’s attention to that. We’ve then softened this sense of grandeur in other areas by using a more natural and down-to-earth palette, particularly at the rear of the restaurant where we want people to linger, so that the experience is all about a shared coming together over food. For example, we’ve maintained the same archway silhouettes for visual continuity, but with a plaster finish that makes the space feel more grounded and comfortable. The use of leather upholstery is reassuring and gentle, like the human touch, while the plush velvet of the armchairs has been incorporated to promote open and meaningful conversation.”
“We've been quite clever with how we want people to behave throughout the different internal spaces by changing up that materiality,” says Rousell, “and, in turn, softening that feeling of initial impressiveness as you walk through into comfort by introducing plenty of wood tones, which is psychologically one of the most reassuring materials because of its inherent connection to nature.”
A scent profile of amber (calming), incense (inspiring) and patchouli (uplifting) has been devised by Jolie for use throughout the interior to help unify each of the internal areas, while a soundtrack of Tropical Bird Club and Japanese Tech has been compiled to showcase the cultural narrative of the restaurant’s food and drink offering.
About Jolie
Founded in 2018, Jolie is a full-service interior design studio, working in the commercial & hospitality sector. In an age of real-world social disconnect where screens demand our attention and fast-moving trends drive the physical world we inhabit, Jolie focuses on the power of real, emotionally-driven experiences that can be influenced by environment and interior space. Their research focuses on human behaviour related to sensory experience; collaborating with neuroscientists in each sensory field, Jolie carefully sources and combines materials and fragrances to imagine each interior. As a young team, Jolie bring a unique perspective to the world of interior design, embodying the millennial mindset to create spaces where individuals of all ages and backgrounds thrive. Acting as interior consultants or principal designers, Jolie collaborate with contractors, architects, suppliers and project managers to deliver from concept to construction.
About Kitten
Kitten is a Japanese Izakaya and cocktail bar recently opened in Manchester’s Deansgate Square and set to become its flagship destination. Headed up by Josh Gabrielides, formerly of Ivy Asia, and Head Sushi Chef Daniel Zhou, formerly of Peter Street Kitchen, the team also boasts experience from Sticks and Sushi and other top ranked Pan-Asian restaurants around the country. Taking centre stage in the venue, the extensive raw menu features a selection of freshly made dishes including black and blue tuna with pickled kohlrabi and squid ink tuille.
About Deansgate Square
Deansgate Square is the latest residential development by Renaker, comprising 1,508 elegant spacious apartments across four carefully designed towers to deliver a new level of city centre living to Manchester. With the four towers and main concierge now complete, works are ongoing on the extensive public realm, The Square, which will deliver a central plaza and extensive landscaping that make the most of the riverside location, designed to be enjoyed by residents and the wider local community. Alongside Kitten, Jolie has also designed the club and tearoom at Deansgate Square, which were shortlisted for Best Leisure Interior at the Dezeen Awards 2021.
