sketch Clears The Air

sketch, the destination for food, art and music, introduces the first UK restaurant air purification system as part of its ground breaking COVID beating strategy.

Owner and founder, Mourad Mazouz is using ionising air units to purify the iconic building, 9 Conduit Street. The building, which seems to attract creativity, has previously been the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects, before later becoming the London Atelier of Christian Dior.

sketch, three Michelin star Lecture Room & Library by Master-chef Pierre Gagnaire

Mazouz places safeguarding as his no.1 priority, saying, “Restaurateurs have a duty to look at all possible solutions to fight against the spread of Corona-virus, in order to protect their customers and employees”. His forward thinking approach has pioneered the way for sketch to install innovative engineering, retrofitted to the building’s HVAC ventilation system. The new ionising air units purify the building’s air-flow, reducing the amount of viruses and bacteria in suspension in the air by 95%.

The new technology by Klima-Therm, has the ability to purify the airflow circulating within the venue by targeting air born particles such as viruses, bacteria and mould spores that may be in suspension in the environment. Purified air plays a critical role in preventing the spread of COVID-19

Klima-Therm’s innovative air purification units have been retrofitted to the restaurants duct network, and programmed to disperse positive and negative oxygen ions into the environment via the ventilation system. The company’s managing director, Tim Mitchell, further explains that the ion mist acts as a magnet for the viruses and other particles suspended in the air we breath. The technology has been tested by several independent laboratories to validate its effectiveness at protecting against airborn pathogens. As well as eliminating bacteria and guarding against viruses, the ionisation technology can also protect people from other potentially risky particulates, such as volatile organic compounds, pollen, spores, odorous gases and aerosols.

The Gallery at sketch, image by Ed Reeve

sketch was inaugurated in 2002 by restaurateur, Mourad Mazouz, and three Michelin starred Master- Chef, Pierre Gagnaire.

As a destination for food, art and music, the Mayfair venue continues to contribute to the building’s heritage as a destination for experimentation. The site consists of the Lecture Room & Library, the Parlour, the Glade, the East Bar, and the Gallery. The Lecture Room & Library was awarded its first Michelin star in 2005, a second star in 2012. The restaurant was recognised with Michelin’s top three stars accolade in 2019.

Over the past decade, due to Mazouz’s commitment to art and design, the venue has hosted works by hundreds of artists – Chris Levine, Ron Arad, Carsten Nicolai, Jonas Mekas, Mary Ellen Bute, Tracey Emin, and more recently, Turner prize Winner, Martin Creed and Nominee, David Shrigley, as part of its long-term programme of artist-designed restaurant for the Gallery.

sketch strongly believes that businesses have a social responsibility, and is committed to helping local communities with initiatives such as adding £1 donations to every restaurant bill. The funds raised provide support to two organisations with causes too hard to ignore, Place2be and Hospitality Action.

sketch is a member of the Luxury Restaurant Club