Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad and Farrokh Aman bring "sense of home" to Iranian-Iraqi cafe

Designer Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad and architect Farrokh Aman drew on their Iranian heritage when creating the playful interior for a cafe in east London that evokes traditional Middle Eastern bistros.

Logma cafe on Goldsmiths Row in Hackney is owned by Iraqi-Iranian couple Ziad Halub and Farsin Rabiee and is an evolution of a successful supper club series they launched in 2024.

Having decided to open a permanent cafe, Rabiee asked his friend, Hashemi-Nezhad, to create a space centred on home cooking, memory and communal dining.

Hashemi-Nezhad chose to work with London-based architect and furniture designer Aman on the project, which was informed by the pair's lived experience and memories of Iranian interiors.

Interior of Logma — The space is owned by Iraqi-Iranian couple Ziad Halub and Farsin Rabiee

"We focused on designing the atmosphere more than the space," Hashemi-Nezhad told Dezeen.

"Not trying to recreate the past, but the idea of the bistro as it would have evolved into the present, indifferent to trends, and always asking ourselves the question, what is a contemporary Iranian-Iraqi cafe in Hackney like?"

Rounded table within Logma cafe, Hackney — Logma draws inspiration from traditional Iranian coffee houses

The Logma project draws inspiration from traditional Iranian coffee houses and domestic spaces, as well as the way many Middle Eastern bistros reference both Eastern and Western interior styles.

A close collaboration with the clients resulted in a space that combines domestic features with theatrical elements, creating a chic environment that feels welcoming during the day and lively at night.

Bar at Logma, Hackney — The space features a communal table and bar with capacity for 18 diners

"It was important to stay close to our idea of the home as a place of personality, pride and hospitality, without tokenism and pastiche," Hashemi-Nezhad added.

"We wanted to make a space that is inviting for guests and practical for the hosts. To balance humility and opulence, seriousness and play."

Storage room — Downstairs, a utilitarian prep kitchen contains all of the necessary storage and utilities

The 32-square-metre space features a communal table and bar with capacity for 18 diners. Downstairs, a utilitarian prep kitchen contains all of the necessary storage and utilities.

Throughout the cafe, familiar elements of Middle Eastern interiors such as the lace curtain, mirrors, chandeliers and furniture are reinterpreted through the designers' individualistic approach to form, colour and function.

Colourful curtains — The designers selected an abundance of colour for this storage space

Two large mirrors create the illusion of more space while generating unexpected angles and visual interactions with other patrons around the room.

Hashemi-Nezhad and Aman designed the majority of fixtures for the cafe, including the pistachio-coloured bar and cherry wood dining table, which were both crafted by architectural furniture maker Jones Neville.

Other furniture including the classic bentwood bistro chairs and contrasting transparent polycarbonate stools in an orange hue contribute to the lighthearted feel.

The space was decorated with a large-scale figurative oil painting by Carlos Bellido Flores, along with candles and chandeliers that create a warm atmosphere when darkness falls.

Lighting by Hashemi-Nezhad — The lighting objects were created by Hashemi-Nezhad

The lighting objects were created by Hashemi-Nezhad by draping molten glass over dark, patinated steel frames, introducing an eye-catching detail that references traditional Iraqi and Iranian lamps.

"We talked early on about a room that glows and glistens, with sensorial elements and subtle surprises, and these pieces sit at the heart of that idea," the designer explained.

Lace curtains above the kitchen — Other materials, like lace, were chosen to generate a sense of theatricality and wonder

Other materials and details were chosen to generate a sense of theatricality and wonder, such as the lace curtain above the serving area that frames Halub and Rabiee as they cook and serve their customers.

Textiles were used to soften the overall aesthetic, with custom portière curtains by London-based textile artist Annika Thiems complemented by the layered lace and latex drape.

The project evolved following a soft launch when the space was unfurnished. The designers prototyped multiple scenarios and fine-tuned the layout to ensure there is no dead space, with furniture such as the blue bench doubling up as useful storage.

"In effect, Logma opened up 'half-dressed' and we organically added elements this way," said Hashemi-Nezhad, "making things to suit the requirements of the space rather than imposing ideas that would have been risky and most certainly inappropriate."

Logma cafe in Hackney — Logma is the progression of the owners' former supper clubs

Hashemi-Nezhad and Aman are both of Iranian heritage and work closely with food in their respective practices, so a project focused on design, food and shared cultural understanding felt appropriate for a first-time collaboration.

Hashemi-Nezhad is a multidisciplinary designer whose work is grounded in anthropology, aesthetics and play. His previous projects include a frame-like shelf that features in the Logma cafe, and a collection of street furniture made from upturned bakers' crates.

Aman designs buildings, events, publications, furniture and objects that explore the notion of domesticity and are developed using a practical approach to designing through common processes and techniques.

The photography is by Ali Koobideh.

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