A traditional Lebanese bread influenced design elements at this bakery in London by local firm MA Studio, where it's the primary item on the menu.
Common Breads on Buckingham Palace Road, close to Victoria station, celebrates the centuries-old Middle Eastern food staple of kaak.
Common Breads was designed as a celebration of kaak bread
In Beirut, the bread is crafted from simple ingredients, covered in sesame seeds and moulded into an identifiable "purse" shape with a hole at the top, which allows vendors to hang the roll from a rig attached to their bicycles.
"Inspired by this quintessential street food, a passionate trio of friends decided to bring the story of kaak to London," said MA Studio, led by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas. The poured floor is speckled to look like sesame seeds
The studio designed the bakery's interior to introduce the bread to new audiences in a contemporary setting.
Formerly an office, the 65-square-metre space at street level was transformed with warm materials and nods to the heritage of the snack it serves.
Kaak bread is also displayed in a window that looks into the kitchen
The original facade was altered to include two prominent reinforced columns at the entrance, while large windows create a connection between the outdoor patio and the indoor areas.
"The interior design interprets the vernacular vocabulary of Lebanese architecture through a curated palette of materials," MA Studio said.
Caramel-toned wood cre...