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A congregation of different cultural influences and craft movements, the design of this London pub perfectly reflects the city’s multicultural heart.
Opened in 2024 in De Beauvoir Town, Hackney, London, the Goodbye Horses Pub has an inspired, kaleidoscopic design that brings together not only different cultural influences, but also the spirit of Japanese and British craft movements, contemporary art, folklore, and an array of natural materials. The project was completed by Leopold Banchini Architects, who collaborated with artist Lucy Stein and local artisans to design the highly distinctive space.
The interior gives a nod to Japanese and British folk art. While it weaves a thread between cultural traditions it also celebrates local crafts and the character of natural materials. In this imaginatively designed space, not one, but several elements can claim to be the centerpiece of the interior. Among them, the ten meters long solid wood bar that acts as a counter and dining table. Inspired by rustic English joinery, the low bar has an irregular, organic shape. Both the bar and the furniture were built from a single, century-old oak tree. Local craftspeople used every part of the trunk to minimize waste. As a result, every timber surface boasts an array of marks, textures, cracks, and grain patterns that tell the story of the tree’s growth over the span of 100 years.
A Fascinating Atmosphere Born from Diverse Materials and Design Influences.
For the chairs, bar and lighting, the studio paired solid oak with volcanic stone, Japanese hemp fiber paper, hand-cast Italian glass, and oxidized brass. This palette beautifully complements the white-painted brick walls and the hand-textured lime plaster ceiling. Referencing countryside pubs, the floor features a blend of soil, straw and clay topped with a linseed oil layer. Outside, the garden features reclaimed stone slabs, completing the eclectic mix of materials.
Another highlight of the space, the curtains draw inspiration from Celtic and medieval British folklore, reminding of antique stained glass windows. The hessian fabric softly filters the light. Hand-painted by artist Lucy Stein, the large curtains feature captivating illustrations completed with natural colors in pastel hues and muted shades of pink, blue and green. Photographs© Rory Gardiner.
