Beijing's Most Interesting People 2014: Coro Urdaneta

The year is drawing to a close, and once again we wanted to look at the people who are helping to shape our lives here in Beijing. So we looked at the artists, the chefs, the entrepreneurs, and a whole lot of other people who are making their mark on the city – and on us and our lifestyle – and put together this look at 10 individuals who are giving it their all. Each one of them is a true Beijinger, regardless of the length of their stay: creative, determined, and hard-working.

Coro Urdaneta
Coromoto Architecture Studio

Coro Urdaneta is the design brains behind Mosto Group, so whether you’re relaxing at Mosto’s newly renovated bar or feeling uplifted by the peppy wall slogans at MOKA Bro’s, you have her to thank. In fact, the design of MOKA Bro’s was so popular that a restaurant in Maizidian copied it wholesale. She remains nonplussed about the copycat, “although they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!”

After working primarily as a freelancer for a few years, in May 2014 she formed her own architecture studio, Coromoto. “I went from being my own boss, to having five staff members. It’s been both challenging and enriching,” she comments. Since then, she has been brought in to do the interior design for the revamped Gung Ho! China View branch and is working on a redesign for Vai Milano gelato. “Now, in 2015, I want to grow my company. MOKA Bro’s has almost become my signature look, but I want to grow beyond that.”

With these kinds of credentials, expect to be sitting down to eat at a lot more Coromoto-styled restaurants in the near future.

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photo: Elephant Studio/the Beijinger