Free State Kitchen

Located within a former ecclesiastical building in the Mount Pleasant Conservation area of Liverpool, Free State Kitchen is an independently run restaurant serving American classics. MGMA worked in close collaboration with the Liverpool-based clients from the earliest stages—assisting in the choice of location, development of the branding and design concept, and overseeing the project through to construction and final fit-out.

Entry to the intimate dining space is via a tiled lobby, where the surface finish subtly references the restaurant’s kitchen. An exposed brick panel signals the garden elevation, with picture window and door opening onto a landscaped terrace. Free State Kitchen’s brand is embodied in the aesthetic and conceptual atmosphere in and out of the restaurant. It is an informal setting defined by the relationship between production and consumption. They use home grown produce from the FSK garden throughout the year and save coffee grinds to fertilise soil.

The new garden elevation openings are a proportional response to the existing windows, offsetting the weight of the masonry, creating a lighter, more permeable façade. New openings in dialogue with retained fabric; each intention is legible, each element distinct. Signage, applied directly to the original brickwork and overlaid with a whitewash, utilises the skin of existing brick while subtly identifying the venue.