Snøhetta Makes a Taste of Barr Accessible to the World Through a Custom-Made Cutlery Set

The launch of the Barr cutlery represents a new focus on product design for Snøhetta, with the aim to further strengthening the firm’s transdisciplinary approach to design and architecture.

After having designed restaurant Barr’s interiors and visual identity for the Noma Restaurant Group in 2017, the design of the cutlery allows Snøhetta to create a holistic design experience that complements the interior architecture and graphic design. By carefully crafting a cutlery set that builds on the restaurant’s conceptual expression, the cutlery design echoes the look and feel of Barr while also enhancing the overall restaurant experience.

The bespoke cutlery has a stonewashed surface which gives it an approachable, sturdy feel, adding contrast and novelty to the typical fine dining experience. When treating the surface of the material in this way, the steel color naturally transitions into a darker gray tone. This contributes to a unique expression, which is in line with Barr’s food philosophy; an ideology where every ingredient and its processing is carefully selected to create new and original dining experiences.

– The new cutlery optimizes the tactile and physical experience of dining at Barr, says executive chef and restaurateur Thorsten Schmidt. – The cutlery is not merely defined by aesthetics or functionality; it actually enhances the enjoyment of the food and thus elevates the eating experience itself. When you lift your spoon or fork, the sturdy weight of the cutlery gives you a stronger sensory experience in relation to the food.

The cutlery conveys a nostalgic yet timeless expression through recognizable cut outs in the handles. The shapes are carefully aligned, creating harmony between the individual pieces of cutlery so that they form a natural whole, like letters in the same font. The handles are shaped to contribute to a more ergonomic experience and are designed to easily stack into each other and lie steadily in the table setting box.

The cutlery is available in two versions; one set with a stonewashed finish, which will be used at Barr, in addition to a set with a brushed matte finish. Both versions are available for sale online at https://tablenoir.com/ and in selected stores across Scandinavia.

About Table Noir

Each year, the Danish cutlery manufacturer Table Noir crafts custom-made cutlery for selected top restaurants. After launch, the cutlery is made available for sale to private customers, enabling them to set their tables like a star restaurant in their own homes.

Last year, Table Noir chose the Danish Michelin-starred restaurant 108 as its first collaborator. A bespoke set of cutlery was designed specifically for 108, in line with the restaurant’s concept and aesthetics. The 108 cutlery is being represented in Denmark’s Design Museum’s permanent exhibition "Danish Design Now", amongst many other Danish design classics.

This year, Table Noir has teamed up with Snøhetta to develop a custom-made cutlery design for Barr.

 

About Thorsten Schmidt

Schmidt is a German-born Danish chef known for his exploration of the Nordic cuisine, and a philosophy rooted in regional and sustainable ingredients. Schmidt was the founder and head chef of the acclaimed Malling & Schmidt in Aarhus, Denmark.

 

About Restaurant Barr

Located in North Atlantic House (Nordatlantens Brygge), Barr is a casual restaurant focused not only on the Nordics, but also on the broader food and drink traditions found in the region along the North Sea; an area that spans Scandinavia, Germany, Benelux and British Isles. The restaurant’s name (Barr: meaning “barley” in old Norse), reflects Schmidt’s fascination with the region’s food and drink history and culture. Classic dishes such as frikadeller (Danish meatballs), schnitzel and hot-smoked salmon are offered alongside a large selection of craft beers and aquavits.

See Snøhetta's press release for the interior and graphic design for restaurant Barr via this link.