Chintemani
LONDON, UK
May Our Heart’s Eyes Be Open. Chintemani is a motif with deep roots and timeless meaning. Three eyes . the eye of the world, the eye of the heart, and the eye of the soul. But the most precious is the eye of the heart. Because when the eye of the heart is opened, al others are opened as wel. The world becomes a more meaningful, more beautiful place.
The wal panel we designed for our Chintemani project in London reinterprets the story of this ancient symbol. Eye, eye, eye . And the smalest one represents the eye of the heart. It transforms into a lighting unit, blinking and radiating its light. Just like the light a person with an open heart brings to their surroundings . May our heart’s eye always be open, and may the world become more beautiful.
The bar greets its guests with a sculptural surface, where the rippling metalic facade flows like liquid light. These soft undulations are not only a design gesture but also a reflection of movement, energy, and the vibrant rhythm of social life. Above, the circular luminaires glow like eyes gazing gently into the space, i luminating both the bottles that line the shelves and the faces gathered around. Each orb of light becomes a symbol of connection, a spark that turns an ordinary evening into something memorable. The warmth of natural wood framing, paired with the refined shimmer of metal and the softness of cream toned seating, creates a delicate balance: elegant yet inviting. This is not only a bar; it is a stage where material, light, and human presence harmonize, reminding us that beauty lives in both detail and atmosphere.
Descending the stairs, guests encounter an open washroom area a deliberate experiential moment. Here, a sculpted washbasin crafted from Serpegiante stone embodies the tripartite Chintemani form, transforming the act of handwashing into ritual. Even gender signage is uniquely designed from abstracted versions of the motif, while individual WC units are imagined as quiet capsules of privacy.
Every element from material choices to spatial transitions carries meaning. This is not just a restaurant. Chintemani is a gesture of connection across time, a contemporary expression of tradition, and a soulful tribute to design as cultural dialogue.
