HEIMAT
by chef
peter find

JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio combines modern simplicity with the warmth of home in Heimat, the restaurant of former Ritz Carlton Executive Chef,  Peter Find. Serving Modern German Cuisine, the menu lists traditional home-cooked fare yet prepared in refreshing and inventive ways.

Heimat, which means “home”, paints a unique homey vibe side-by-side with the other establishments in Lan Kwai Fong. Celebrating Germany’s tradition and history with its menu choices, not to be outdone is the Heimat’s urban feel, which reflects the chef’s modern approach to well-loved dishes. 

“When Chef Peter first told me about Heimat, my ears perked. He wanted a space where his childhood dishes and flavours can be reinvented for an elevated market and palate.”

To recreate the sense of home the designer studied icons of German Architecture. 

“We considered the traditional Hausbarn structure - the concept of the family living upstairs and the farm animals downstairs. The restaurant’s parquet floor and the open kitchen  reflect this barn concept.” 

Fast forward to modern clean lines and elegant Architectural form, the designer was inspired by the Barcelona Pavilion of Mies Van Der Rohe. “For the private room we used finishes of stone, and for dining tables, it was designed with an aerodynamic cantilevering quality reflecting German engineering.” 

Even the colours were a fun mix. “It was important to choose colours that Chef Peter is comfortable with. We used muted blue, navy, grey, beige, black, brass, and dusty orange.  I think there's a certain masculinity, but overlayed with a sense of playfulness and joviality.”

Fine cuisine, comfortable space, and for the discriminating diner, the closest place to home. 

Overall Brief - With Heimat, JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio, designed a modern and clean restaurant, one with warmth and using a style and sensibility allowing food, service, and staff to take centre-stage. How can a home for German cuisine serve award-winning meals, but also cater to a community of fans from all walks of life? The concept of the "elevated home" was definitely considered when creating this uniquely special project for Hong Kong and Asia.

Less Is More - In creating this unique design, JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio looked to Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe’s dictum, “less is more”, and his minimalist design style as a reference. The architect, who was often known only as “Mies,” used "modern" materials like industrial steel and glass, to create the bones of interiors, while emphasising open spaces and simplicity.

The Hausbarn - Additionally the studio also looked at the Hausbarn for inspiration. The Hausbarn is a unique structure consisting of living quarters for the family, which include bedrooms, sitting areas, dining and cooking areas in the upper floor- similar to a piano nobile, in addition to accommodating areas for housing livestock, farm equipment and feed on the ground floor. Hausbarns were a common form of dwelling throughout several areas of Germany, especially in Schleswig-Holstein in the northwest part of Germany. 

The Stammtisch - Some key areas to highlight in the restaurant, include the “stammtisch” a shared table found commonly in pubs all across Germany. The Stammtisch is U-Shaped VIP table that is usually reserved for town regulars visiting the pub day in and day out. At Heimat, the Stammtisch is located adjacent to the Chef’s Open Kitchen.

Bespoke Checkerboard Rugs and Parquet Floor - JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio also collaborated with custom flooring and carpet manufacturers, to create a bespoke 600x600 parquet grid pattern of lightly oiled oak. Burgundy and white checkerboard inlay wool area rugs were designed for host table and private rooms, which reflect the checkerboard floorings found in German homes in the 70s and 80s. 

Chef's Kitchen Table - The Chef’s Kitchen Table hosts guests of 4 for after-dinner dessert and drinks.

German Bar - The bar area allows guests to taste and try the finest German wine and spirits. 

Private Rooms - Two Private rooms clad in burl wood give guests a festive yet private dining experience. 

Bespoke Furniture and Lights - Area tables and furnishings are custom designed by JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio and decorative lighting is outfitted by Marset, Flos, and Artemide.

Design Studio 
JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio

Design Team
James JJ Acuna, Dominic Cheung, Alex Garcia, Vivian Wu, Helena Sugito, Eric Marasigan, Alexis Abiog for JJA/BS

Lighting Team
Eugenia Cheng of Lightorigin Studio

Completion Date
May 2022

Location
Hong Kong

Floor Area
3315 sqft

Site Photography
HDP Image Maker and Natalie Dunn Photography