In the Mix
HOUSE OF KOKO
For 125 years, KOKO has been a place where London culture happens. Prince, Amy Winehouse and Madonna have all performed beneath the dome of its Victorian theatre, while successive generations have known the Camden landmark in different guises.
Following a three-year restoration, KOKO reopened in 2022 as a 50,000-square-foot cultural destination, encompassing the restored theatre, Café KOKO and private members’ club The House of KOKO. Music remains at its heart, but today art, design, food and performance are deliberately brought into the same conversation.
For founder Olly Bengough, the most compelling cultural experiences combine original ideas with beautifully crafted execution. “Those ingredients give people the confidence and excitement that they are witnessing something truly unique.”
A Dialogue Across Generations
The relationship between old and new is particularly evident at The House of KOKO, which unfolds backstage across four floors, from a recording studio and piano room to a library, roof terrace and hidden vinyl rooms.
Its contemporary art collection draws on the building’s cultural history without being constrained by it. “We found ourselves drawn to contemporary artists whose work carries a timeless quality, feeling both rooted in the past and relevant to the present,” says Katie Heller.
Music provides another thread. Keith Tyson’s 32 Strokes, depicting a drum kit, is among works that make the connection explicit, while elsewhere the collection is deliberately eclectic. “Ultimately, we chose pieces based on what we loved and what resonated with us,” Heller says.
Her confidence in that instinct has grown with experience. Artists she supported early in their careers have gone on to international recognition, although she is wary of treating discernment as something absolute. “Art is so subjective. Just because a work doesn’t resonate with me doesn’t mean it won’t mean something to someone else.”
“Its contemporary art collection draws on the building’s cultural history without being constrained by it”
Finding the Real Thing
Bengough recognises a similar quality in music. After two decades of watching musicians pass through KOKO’s doors, it is individuality rather than polish alone that catches his attention.
“What stands out is when an artist or musician is able to create music that is true to themselves,” he says. “When an artist digs deep and you can feel it’s deeply personal to them, what they create has a different resonance and magic to it.”
Working across disciplines keeps that perspective evolving. “I love working and collaborating with creatives across all mediums and learning from their brilliance, and combining that all into one unique vision.”
The Value of Being There
In an era when much of our cultural discovery happens through a screen, KOKO remains built around something decidedly physical: gathering in a room to experience creativity with other people.
“We live in a time where we are overloaded with content and messaging which makes us feel disconnected to life,” Bengough says. “The purpose of shared experiences and human creativity is an important way for us all to get together.”
For Heller, London continues to provide plenty to discover. Recent degree shows have introduced her to a new generation of artists, while she sees artists responding to challenges in the traditional gallery model by working more independently.
“We’re beginning to see a new model emerge, with artists working more independently and thinking outside the box,” she says. “It’s an exciting time of change, so let’s watch this space.”
www.thehouseofkoko.com: In the Mix: House of KOKO
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