London-based architecture studio A-nrd has completed Canal, a sophisticated restaurant along the banks of the Grand Union Canal in west London, featuring raw materials and handcrafted surfaces that pay homage to the area's industrial past while creating what the designers call a "meditative energy."
The 280-square-meter restaurant is part of a mixed-use housing development in Westbourne Park, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for developer Mason Fifth on the former site of the London Taxi Drivers' Association headquarters. The project represents A-nrd's signature approach to sensitive interior transformations, emphasizing organic materials and textures that soften utilitarian aesthetics.
"We didn't want to over-design the space," explained Alessio Nardi, founder of A-nrd, whose studio has gained recognition for thoughtful interior renovations. "The architecture had a directness and rhythm that resonated with our approach, and we drew on the site's industrial past and waterside setting to create a space that feels layered and expressive."
The restaurant was developed in collaboration with restaurateur Dominic Hamdy and styling firm Interior Address, resulting in a cohesive design that balances industrial elements with refined dining experiences.
The centerpiece of the 80-seat dining room is a striking island bar clad in hand-folded zinc panels. The bar features a cream-colored stone top with a deliberately hewn edge that introduces textural detail and craftsmanship elements. Behind the bar, a custom wine storage wall spans the full width of the elevation, constructed from Sapele wood with inset hammered zinc panels that evoke the gentle reflections of the adjacent canal water.
These zinc panels serve multiple purposes throughout the space, creating what Nardi describes as the restaurant's "slow, meditative energy." Zinc-topped tables positioned near these panels, combined with black steel bar stools, offer an alternative seating arrangement to the more traditional dining areas elsewhere in the restaurant.
The open kitchen, located at the far end of the space, is framed by an innovative canopy made from wood and hammered glass, which produces subtle light refractions that add visual interest and reinforce the handcrafted aesthetic throughout the space.
The main dining area emphasizes communal experiences through the use of large shared tables that highlight the space's scale and visual rhythm. London furniture maker Jason Posno created custom wooden tables featuring hand-chiseled edges that add artisanal touches and reinforce the restaurant's commitment to craftsmanship.
A row of banquettes positioned adjacent to full-height windows creates intimate dining spaces with direct views of the canal. These wooden booths are upholstered in textured brown fabric, with the signature chiseled detailing repeated on their rear surfaces, creating visual continuity throughout the interior design.
Lighting plays a crucial role in establishing the restaurant's atmosphere. Local studio Findere designed bespoke paper pendant lights specifically for the space, which are suspended above the booth seating areas to provide soft textural elements and ambient lighting. Throughout the rest of the restaurant, track-mounted spotlights are integrated alongside exposed ducting and utilities to provide directional task lighting, while playful doughnut-shaped wall lights from Italian manufacturer Foscarini add decorative elements around the perimeter.
Interior Address contributed to the project by sourcing complementary furniture pieces, including wooden dining chairs from Danish brand Frama and distinctive bar stools with twisted footrests from Swedish manufacturer Massproductions, which are arranged around the central bar area.
The restaurant extends onto an outdoor terrace accommodating 30 guests, where black steel furniture and timber-edged planters create visual and material continuity between the interior and exterior spaces. Large windows provide seamless transitions between the indoor dining areas and the canal-facing terrace.
"Canal is about contrast, comfort and craft," said Nardi. "It's modest in scale, but rich in detail. Every decision was about building a space that encourages interaction, where detail and atmosphere come together to feel open, and inherently welcoming."
A-nrd was established in 2015 by Nardi, who works alongside creative partner Lukas Persakovas. The studio focuses on creating spaces that feel intimate and familiar, with previous projects including the transformation of a former London bank into an Italian restaurant that preserved historic interior elements, and the design of a laid-back restaurant interior reminiscent of an Australian beach club in London's Soho district.
The Canal restaurant project demonstrates A-nrd's continued commitment to honoring existing architectural contexts while introducing contemporary design elements that enhance functionality and atmosphere. The use of raw, hammered, and chiseled surfaces throughout the space creates a handcrafted aesthetic that connects the restaurant to both its industrial heritage and its unique waterside location.
The project's success lies in its ability to balance multiple design objectives: respecting the site's industrial history, maximizing the canal-side location's potential, creating intimate dining experiences within a larger space, and establishing a cohesive material palette that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Interior photography was completed by Cody Bamford, while exterior shots were captured by Adam Firman, documenting the restaurant's integration into the broader Westbourne Park development and its relationship with the Grand Union Canal setting.
The Canal restaurant represents a significant addition to London's dining scene, offering both locals and visitors a unique experience that combines thoughtful architecture, quality materials, and a distinctive sense of place rooted in the area's industrial past and natural waterway setting.
