Common Breads: MA Studio’s Fresh Take on Lebanese Street Food in London.

A stone’s throw from London’s Victoria Station, a new bakery is serving up bread while offering a taste of Lebanese street life. Common Breads, a project by MA Studio, has transformed a former office space into a ground-floor retail bakery that celebrates the story of Kaak, a beloved street food from the Levant.

Kaak is a simple bread with a somewhat iconic status made from flour, water, and salt, which has been a staple of Levantine street food for centuries. In Beirut, the sight of vendors on bicycles, their unique apparatuses laden with purse-shaped breads, is as much a part of the cityscape as the buildings themselves. It’s this vibrant street culture that inspired three friends to bring the Kaak experience to London.

MA Studio, led by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas, faced the challenge of turning a nondescript office space into a bakery that captures the essence of Lebanese street life. The resulting space seamlessly blends traditional elements with contemporary design.

The bakery’s entrance, framed by two prominent reinforced columns, sets the tone for the entire space. Inside, a poured floor mimicking the appearance of simsim (sesame seeds) creates a visual connection between the street and the bakery interior.

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The design team has cleverly incorporated elements of Lebanese architecture and culture throughout the space. The warm, caramel-toned wooden archways frame the entrance in a nod to traditional Lebanese architecture. Playful checkerboard patterns on the counters pay homage to Lebanon’s love of backgammon. Colourful, artisanal tiles adorn the countertops and fronts, adding a vibrant touch reminiscent of Lebanese interiors. Custom light fixtures by Fabraca Studios, shaped like Kaak, provide both illumination and a whimsical reference to the bakery’s star product.

More than a place that sells baked goods, Common Breads aims to deliver an immersive cultural experience. The open kitchen allows customers to watch the baking process while displays of hanging Kaak echo the street vendors’ bicycles. This thoughtful integration of traditional elements and modern design creates a space where the warmth of Lebanese hospitality meets London’s cosmopolitan vibe.

Culinary Worlds Collide: Juno Restaurant in Doha by Rawan Muqaddas and Selma Akkari.

Drawing inspiration from the timeless Italian establishment and the iconic American diner, Juno’s interior evokes a warm atmosphere reminiscent of the two culinary worlds.

[Images courtesy of MA Studio. Photography by Felix Speller.]