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A 1969 school building in Singapore with “modern tropical” architecture has been converted into New Bahru, a shopping and dining location by local studios FARM and Nice Projects. More
Fireplaces, warm lighting and large windows offering views of the Teton Range are among the features at the renovated and expanded Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming, which is the only commercial airport within an American national park.
Located in the mountainous Grand Teton National Park in the western part of the state, the airport dates to the 1930s and has undergone various changes over the decades.
Jackson Hole Airport dates back to the 1930sAround 2009, it received a major update by the Denver office of global studio Gensler, with Jackson-based CLB Architects serving as the local associate architect.
In more recent years, CLB has served as the design architect for a series of renovations and additions spanning five phases. Miller Dunwiddie, a Minneapolis firm, served as executive architect.
The project was designed to tie into the landscapeThe project was designed to tie into the landscape and “facilitate the flow of 21st-century travelers”, while also adhering to strict area and height limits imposed by the national park.
The facility is the only commercial airport located within a US national park, according to the federal agency that oversees the parks.
A new restaurant/bar was included in the renovationThe work included a new restaurant/bar, an expanded holding area, two additional gates, a gift shop and an updated baggage claim area with retail space — all held within the L-shaped terminal totalling 125,000 square feet (11,613 square metres).
“Design decisions facilitate an easy and stress-free travel experience, with open floor plans and clear sight corridors, as well as abundant glazing that frames the airplane runways and Teton Mountain range beyond,” said CLB Architects.
Interior finishes are a mix of earthy and industrial materialsInterior finishes are a mix of earthy and industrial materials, including polished concrete, quartzite and timber – all meant to stand up to heavy use, as 800,000 travelers pass through the airport each year.
For the structural system, the team paired lightweight steel with Douglas fir glue-laminated beams and rough-hewn log columns. The structural supports are meant to have “an elegant and minimal presence”.
Fireplaces were incorporated to make the airport feel like a “residential space”In addition to the natural light that flows in through large windows, the terminal has downlights, uplights and LED accents that create a feeling of warmth.
“Indirect up-lighting creates an evocative, atmospheric quality that contrasts with the usual cold, fluorescent lighting of institutional airport spaces,” the team said.
CLB Architects created a “living room” for travellers awaiting their flightsThroughout the facility, the team blended elements of residential design into the travel hub.
“It was our intent to make the experience feel more like a residential space rather than a commercial one,” the team said.
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On the northern side of the terminal, where passengers wait to board their planes, the studio created a “living room” with comfy furniture, commissioned artwork and a monumental fireplace.
Glazed walls are lined with polished concrete benches with leather seat cushioning, where visitors can watch aircraft take off and land. The waiting area also features a grab-and-go concessions counter and a casual restaurant with a fireplace.
The terminal is designed to be highly flexibleThe terminal is designed to be highly flexible, so rooms can be reconfigured as needed. To that point, the airpot has an underground area of approximately 3,000 square feet (279 square metres) that was envisioned as a “versatile flex space”.
CLB had two additional projects underway at the airport – a private terminal and three hangar structures.
Other US airport projects include the ZGF-designed expansion to the Portland International Airport, which features a massive timber roof, and plans for a highly sculptural air-traffic-control tower in Columbus, Indiana, designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects.
The photography is by Matthew Millman.
Project credits:
Design architect and architect of record for phases 3-7: CLB ArchitectsCLB team: Kevin Burke (partner), Cary Lakeman (senior project manager), Steve Jakub (project manager)Executive architect for phases 3-7: Miller DunwiddieInterior design: TruexCullins (restaurant and hold room)Contractor: Wadman CorporationCivil consultant: JviationGeotechnical engineer and well design: Nelson EngineeringStructural engineer: KL&AMechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology engineer: Michaud, Cooley, EricksonLighting: Helius Lighting DesignFood service: The Marshall AssociatesLife, safety, accessibility: Jensen HughesAcoustic engineer: Wave EngineeringClient: Jackson Hole AirportOwner’s representative: KLJ Engineering
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Local studio Trahan Architects has finished an interior renovation of the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, completing a series of renovations launched after Hurricane Katrina that it claims will extend the stadium’s life by 25 years.
Trahan Architects’ work on the interior is the latest upgrade since the studio was engaged on the Superdome restoration in 2005, after it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The building sheltered as many as 20,000 thousand people fleeing the storm.
The Superdome was originally completed in 1975 by Curtis and Davis Associated and featured a dome and concave cylindrical facade clad with aluminium panels.
Trahan Architects has completed the renovation of the Superdome stadium in New OrleansAfter Hurricane Katrina, Trahan Architects implemented an overhaul of the exterior, replacing all the panels with a rainscreen system made from anodized aluminium metal panels.
The current phase of the renovation, which was completed in time for its first game of the NFL season, included the removal of the ramp circulation system on the concourse.
This allowed for concessions to be pushed to the outside of the structure, as well as for the installation of atriums in the entry programs and for lounges to be installed.
In total, the renovation opened up more than 100,000 square feet (9,290 square metres), according to the studio.
It is the latest in a series of renovations undertaken after the stadium was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005The removal of the ramps allowed for more shared spaces and circulation, according to the studio, which modelled the concessions and circulation on the community-oriented streetscapes of New Orleans.
“With this interior overhaul, we wanted the building to feel like a microcosm of our city,” Trahan Architects founding principal Trey Trahan told Dezeen.
“We thought of the design as a series of stacked neighborhoods or ‘faubourgs’ as we call them, all connected by generous circulation spaces that served them – aka ‘the street’.”
Also important to the renovation was bringing the materiality used for the original facade inside.
Both Trahan and studio partner Brad McWhirter told Dezeen that the original innovativeness of Superdome, structurally and materially, was important throughout the redesign process.
Anodized aluminium similar to that found on the exterior was used to clad the atriums”The rich material language they worked with, having the exterior skin of anodized aluminum which ages beautifully over time, along with its elegant form, made us see it as a sculpture that needed to be expressed both inside and out,” said McWhirter.
“Before, you never got to experience the shape of the building from the interior – they were treated as two completely separate elements.”
This move is most obvious in the atriums placed at three corners of the structure, which are the most visually apparent interventions.
Here, express elevators move up through the voids. The voids have walls clad with anodized aluminium rods and are crossed by thick metal-clad beams that reveal the structure.
Trahan Architects removed the circulation ramps and added additional seating and concessionsPlanning for resiliency and bringing the structure to compliance with codes around ventilation and accessibility were also important in the redesign process.
Trahan Architects worked with engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti to ensure the building could stand up to high winds – it was during this 3D modelling process that the voids covered by the circulation ramps were discovered, which led to their removal.
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“You would walk up the ramps from floor to floor with an eight-foot (2.4 metre) ceiling height, to small, cramped concourses until you finally got to your seat for some relief,” said Trahan.
“With the model, we could see the full breadth of the voids and wasted space that could be more useful for the public, building operations, and for incorporating new mechanical systems.”
These processes all happened while keeping the stadium in use for the American football season. The studio also had to install accessible decks for movement-impaired people, all while making sure that new mechanical systems did not interfere too much with the aesthetic of the exterior.
“This, and from a design standpoint, implementing universal accessibility within a 50-year-old building was very difficult. We had to make up for a lot of lost time to bring the building up to today’s standards and go the extra mile to prepare for the future,” added Trahan.
Escalators and elevators now provide the primary circulation to the upper levelsThese future-looking improvements included the aforementioned facade replacement and the inclusion of new emergency generators, as the loss of power during Hurricane Katrina created harsh conditions for those sheltering inside.
The architects also lauded some of the original features of the structure, which were maintained.
Accessibility decks were also added as part of the renovation”For instance, the ‘gutter tubs’ of the roof, hidden behind the lip of the facade at the top, manage stormwater such that draining a 10-acre roof doesn’t overload the city’s system,” said McWhirter.
“This continues to work very well to this day – even with the incredible amount of development that’s occurred since the building first opened.”
According to the studio, the total of the renovations since 2005 will drastically extend the lifespan of the stadium.
“This comprehensive renovation is expected to extend the building’s lifespan by 25 years, allowing future generations to enjoy the same sense of community and excitement the New Orleans landmark has fostered for nearly half a century,” it said.
Other restorations of iconic buildings include Foster + Partners’ interior overhaul of the Transamerica Pyramid skyscraper in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, natural disasters worsened by climate change continue to be an impetus to design buildings better. In light of that, Dezeen launched a series last year called Designing for Disaster to highlight the different problems and solutions architects and designers face in the face of extreme weather events.
The photography is by Tim Hursley.
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Bangkok studio Touch Architect has created French Kitsch III, a patisserie in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with a design that references French cathedrals and pastries.
The 360-square-metre board-marked concrete building was informed by an idea of Frenchness that drew on many different sources, including religious architecture.
French Kitsch III is located in Nakhon Ratchasima”French cathedrals have an architectural identity dating back to ancient times; they are merely one of the initial inspirations when thinking of Frenchness, aligned with the concept of the ‘French Kitsch’ brand,” Touch Architect co-founder Parpis Leelaniramol told Dezeen.
In addition to cathedrals, the studio also looked to another French icon when designing the patisserie – the croissant.
Touch Architect referenced different French symbols for its designThe studio used the shape of a croissant to create French Kitsch III’s interior, which features a number of arches with slightly uneven shapes.
“The architectural space is formed by rhythmic arches, with the shape of four different arches created by the curve of a croissant in cross-sectional cut,” Leelaniramol said.
“Moreover, the board-formed concrete material used throughout the building serves as a metaphor for the croissant stripes,” she added.
Its interior has arches modelled on the shape of a croissantTouch Architect also used concrete for the structure to add to the “concept of imperfection”.
“Not only croissant stripes, using concrete as the material also strengthens the concept of perfection of imperfection where the wall is not completely smooth, but it reflects the authenticity of the material, which can be beautiful by itself,” Leelaniramol said.
The board-marked concrete was intended to resemble a croissant’s stripesSome of French Kitsch III’s curved forms double as solar shades, helping cool the building in Nakhon Ratchasima’s hot climate, which can reach 37 degrees in spring.
“Thick walls and the inverted curves on the upper floor act as shading devices and reduce heat from direct sunlight,” Leelaniramol explained.
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Inside, the arched concrete walls are lit by slender LED lights that emphasise their shape, while arched windows provide views of the exterior.
“When light passes through the arched window, it creates reflections on the floor, similar to that of cathedral glass,” the studio said.
LED lights illuminate the interior and emphasise its shapeA long counter is placed along one wall on the ground floor and can be seen from the second floor. Here, the studio carved voids into the concrete to let in more light.
Touch Architect also added spaces for greenery inside, creating contrasts against the grey concrete.
“Due to the limited size of the site, the building needs to maximise space to accommodate all functional requirements, leaving no room for an outdoor landscape,” Leelaniramol said. “Therefore, green areas are integrated inside the architecture.”
Green plants and pink dogs feature inside the French Kitsch III patisserieDecorative pink bulldogs, the symbol for the French Kitsch brand, have been placed throughout the cafe.
“A local sculptor created the pink bulldog sculpture based on our design, which analysed and integrated its placement into each space to create a livable atmosphere and truly connect with customers,” Leelaniramol concluded.
Other recent Thai projects on Dezeen include a community building formed of rammed earth and a curving cafe with a Baobab tree growing inside.
The photography is by Metipat Prommomate and Anan Naruphantawat.
Project credits:
Architect: Touch ArchitectOwner: Chanon Jeimsakultip and Anuchit VongjonPrincipal architect: Setthakarn Y and Parpis LDesign team: Pitchaya T, Tanita P, Matucha K and Nutchapol ChInterior: Thanunya DCivil engineer: Chittinat WongmaneeprateepM&E engineer: Yodchai Kornsiriwipha x Isarapap RattanabumrungContractor: Samma Construction Part., Ltd.Narrator: Methawadee Pathomrattanapiban
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Local entrepreneur Varun Kataria has unveiled a venue with a mix of colourful, retro details that contains the only permanent roller rink in New York City.
Set in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Xanadu occupies a former industrial warehouse, which was converted by Kataria and his team, who also run the nearby restaurant and venue Turks Inn and Sultan Room.
Xanadu is a multi-functional space with a massive roller rink in BrooklynThe multi-functional space now contains a roller rink, stage, bar area and large bathrooms, one of which can be converted into a smaller “club within a club”.
According to Kataria, the space originally had columns throughout, but to make a large enough surface for an uninterrupted roller rink the ceiling needed to be supported without columns.
It includes a mix of colours and patternsWorking with a local architect friend, Kataria created a structure around the existing structure, suspending the ceiling from the superstructure in order to support the weight, essentially creating a second ceiling.
This allows for a wide space centred around the hand-painted, maple-wood rink, but without sacrificing details for the attendant spaces.
Plentiful seating lines the leisure spaces around the rinkThe result is a “fun and maximum” space that contains a dizzying mix of patterns and colours.
At the entrance, a desk was placed to rent out custom skates. From here, a walkway passes under an archway anchored by a sofa that wraps around a pole. Guests pass a long bar and on the wall across from it are raised seating areas.
Banquet seating wraps the far side of the space and throughout, multiple entryways have been placed to give access to the massive rink.
It has a massive maple wood roller rinkThe ceiling has incongruous shapes cut into it with track lighting. Kataria said that the Memphis Group design movement in part influenced the shape, giving the space the sense of an “elevated adult day care.
“It’s not afraid to be playful,” said Kataria. “And the relationship with color became a real joy.”
A stage sits adjacent to the ringHe added that the combination of many influences and time-periods was meant to have an “uncanny” effect on the visitors.
Details such as infinity mirrors in the long sloping bar, colourful patterns in the carpet and vinyl surface coverings – almost every vinyl surface has a different pattern – create a mix of historical time periods that Kataria said work together to “push nostalgic buttons”, while being contemporary.
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He said that the idea was to revive a entertainment form that people often associate more squarely with the past.
“I’m not gonna say it’s an industry in decline, but the spaces themselves are in decline, right?” Kataria told Dezeen.
“They’re usually old. But there’s more skaters than ever now. So I think as a cultural practice, it’s exploding, you know, with new energy.”
One bathroom can be converted into a mini clubThe bathrooms are mostly monotone – one red and one blue. The red one has a hidden DJ set up so that it can become Club Flush.
Other recent rinks include an ice skating rink built in Canada by architecture studio Lemay, which it says is the largest in the world.
The photography is by Matt Harrington.
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Local architecture practice Dubrovska Studio has created a fitness studio lined with curtains and outfitted with custom furniture made from materials sourced from around Kyiv in the face of wartime shortages.
Located in Kyiv, Stan will host barre and yoga classes for up to 15 people in its main space and includes a reception area and locker area across 1,290 square feet (120 square metres).
Dubrovska Studio has created a barre and yoga studio in Kyiv”In our situation, when we initiated the project, there was virtually nothing available. We literally pieced the project together from leftovers we found around Kyiv,” said Dubrovska Studio founder Natalie Dubrovska.
Visitors first walk into a curtain-lined reception and welcome area, which contains a custom, semi-circle sofa, reception desk and “little tables” made of stone.
The studio is lined with curtains to soften the spaceThe curtains lining the space follow a curved track at the corners in order to soften the space and “smooth” out the interior.
Many furniture pieces were custom-made from locally sourced or reused materials, which the studio says was a “primary concept” for the studio’s design – in part due to difficulties faced when ordering abroad during the ongoing Ukraine war.
Furniture was made from locally sourced or reused materialsThe tables were crafted from scraps found at a warehouse, while the sofa was upholstered in a neutral, multicoloured fabric from the 1970s.
“The quest for the right fabric turned into a humorous journey, with many Gobelins featuring unappealing cat face illusions,” said Dubrovska. “Almost giving up, we lucked out, discovering a fabric from the 1970s that closely mirrored our initial design.”
The curtains follow a curved trackA reception desk sits to one corner, and was made from cast concrete. Rough edges line the top to contrast with the softness of the surrounding curtains, while its smooth base runs into the concrete floor.
A standing mirror sits across from the desk, mounted into a stone to create “magic and special charm” and next to it, a sink and countertop are concealed behind a curtain.
White drapes and mirrors line the studioThe same white drapes cover large windows along the studio, which sits in front of the welcome area. Ballet barres and mirrors also line the space.
A locker and changing room sits to the other side of the welcome area, with wooden storage created by Dubrovska Studio “in the absence of a minimalistic and soft solution” in contrast to standard metal lockers.
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A bench made of the same light-coloured wood sits in the centre of the space, while a line of showers was clad in small white mosaic tiles as a nod to public restrooms.
According to the studio, there were frequent electricity black outs during construction, but despite the challenges, Stan is a “sanctuary”.
Wooden lockers were created as a “soft solution” for storage”Stan encapsulates the spirit of feminine strength, elegance, and individuality, inviting to embark on a transformative journey within its carefully curated space,” said the studio. “It is not just a studio; it is a sanctuary for self-expression and holistic well-being.”
Stan studio was founded by professional dancer Mariia Dreihaupt. The word “stan” is the Latin translation of the Ukrainian word “ctah”, meaning “physical posture”.
Small, white mosaic tiles line a shower area as a nod to public restroomsDubrovska Studio is based in Kyiv and was founded in 2018 by designer Natalie Dubrovska. It focuses on bringing “calmness, harmony and self-connection” to projects.
Another project recently completed in Ukraine includes a holiday cabin in the Carpathian mountains. Recently architecture and design studios shared how they are coping at the two-year mark of Russia’s invasion.
The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.
Project credits:
Team: Natalie Dubrovska, Katerina Bandura, Daria Shmyrko
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UK architecture studio Pearce+ and Canadian designer Joe Kalturnyk have created a temporary inflatable restaurant for subzero temperatures in Winnipeg, Canada.
The barrel-vaulted restaurant has space for 48 guests dining in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius during the 10th annual RAW:almond fine dining food festival, which celebrates both Canadian cuisine and the harsh winter.
The temporary restaurant was designed by Pearce+Each year, the food festival commissions the construction of a temporary structure that responds to its environment and incorporates sustainable reuse.
“[The shelter] mirrors the ethos of the food served within by minimizing waste, discovering elegance in simplicity, creatively celebrating local identity, and incorporating a global outlook,” said the team.
It featured a vaulted dining roomPearce+, based in Herfordshire and London, constructed the 220-square metre (2,370-square foot) restaurant in just a few weeks, and it was in use for 22 days early in 2024.
The snow-surrounded structure had a cruciform plan with a 140-square metre (1,500-square foot) vaulted dining room that contained two linear tables.
Pearce+ developed custom inflatable panelsEmploying a Diagrid framework, the vault was constructed from 18-meter-long, 15-millimetre reinforced steel bars.
“These bars were bundled in groups of three, with varying plywood spacers, to create exceptionally lightweight trusses,” the team said.
Interior diamond-shaped panels featured a reflective foil layerThe team – with the help of inflatable specialists at Inflate Ltd – developed custom inflatable panels that mitigated the potential pressure to decrease the cold temperature’s lower air density. It was stretched over the framework.
The diamond-shaped panels featured a gold-coloured foil layer that reflected heat into the space.
Festival goers entered through a smaller vaulted lobby tunnelAlong the ridge line, the gold panels were swapped with transparent ones, offering a view to the snowy sky.
The panels were connected with Velcro – rather than glue due to the extreme temporal variation – and were disassembled and stored for future uses.
Directly across from the entrance was the rectangular kitchenCapping each end of the dining area were trapezoidal buttressing structures, designed to resist strong winds and offer emergency egress.
Festival goers entered through a smaller vaulted lobby tunnel at the centre of the plan. A gabled wooden vestibule transitioned into the dining area.
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Directly behind the structure was the rectangular kitchen.
Separated by a small hallway, the kitchen was constructed with a Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP) flat-pack and outfitted with high-quality appliances.
Rectangular dining tables featured insideThe structure was meant to be a demonstration of ways to conserve space by utilising temporary structures.
“I think it’s necessary to start re-envisioning how we use space, for what and for how long,” said RAW:almond co-founder Joe Kalturnyk.
“In the beginning I was interested in seeing if you can temporarily build a city within a city – and what better way to test the idea than with food? RAW:almond was a huge leap – would people embrace the winter and eat outdoors? Would they do it on a frozen river? And ultimately, could we even pull this off?”
In 2015, the RAW:almond pop-up restaurant was constructed on the surface of a frozen river with an X-shaped plan lying over the connection between the Assiniboine and Red rivers.
The restaurant was designed for subzero temperaturesAlso in Winnipeg, Canadian studio KPMB revealed a horticultural centre with a Fibonacci spiral roof.
The photography is by Simeon Rusnak.
RAW:almond 2024 took place from 24 January to 18 February. For more events, talks and exhibitions involving architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.
Project credits:
Project founders: Joe Kalturnyk & Mandel HitzerArchitect/designer: Pearce+ and Joe KalturnykArchitect of record: AtLrg ArchitectureProject management: Joe KalturnykStructural engineers: Wolfrom EngineeringInflatable specialists: InflateVisualisations: Pearce+Construction: RAW:Almond team, Pearce+ and Hi-Rise
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Madrid-based Zooco Estudio has created a striking restaurant within the Cantabrian Maritime Museum in Santander, Spain, that celebrates the building’s brutalist architecture.
The restaurant is set within a dramatic vault of concrete paraboloids that were unearthed during the renovation, while a slatted timber ceiling pays homage to the area’s shipbuilding legacy.
Zooco Estudio added a restaurant to the second floor of the Cantabrian Maritime MuseumOverlooking the tranquil waters of Santander Bay, the restaurant is located on the second floor of the landmark Cantabrian Maritime Museum, which was designed in the mid-1970s by architects Vicente Roig Forner and Ángel Hernández Morales.
The paraboloids were an original fixture of the structure and supported the roof of what was once the museum’s patio.
Oak details were designed to contrast the restaurant’s concrete archesThe studio focused on restoring the historic fabric of the space and reviving the paraboloids, which had been concealed for around 20 years, as “a vestige of the past”.
“In 2003, the building was renovated and as part of this intervention, the paraboloids were covered with a new roof and the space between them and the perimeter of the building was closed with glass, generating a covered space where there was previously a terrace,” Zooco Estudio co-founder Javier Guzmán told Dezeen.
“We wanted the concrete paraboloids to be the absolute protagonists of the space and by removing the paint and the coating, the paraboloids are visible again and regain their full prominence.”
The renovation exposed the raw concrete surface of the paraboloidsThe previous renovation also altered the dimensions of the space and reconfigured the volume as a square.
To promote symmetry, four additional concrete triangles were added to balance out the original paraboloids in the brutalist restaurant.
Slatted wooden ceiling panels bridge the gaps between the archesOverhead, a false ceiling of slatted timber panels frames the concrete arches.
The studio designed theses triangular boards to reference the arrangement of timber across the hull of a boat, a nod to the museum and the area’s nautical past.
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The panels also serve the purpose of concealing the restaurant’s mechanical systems.
“The wooden slats bring warmth and friendliness to the space while allowing us to solve all the technical needs for air conditioning, heating and lighting, leaving them hidden,” Guzmán said.
“In this way, we ensure that all these elements do not interfere with the dialogue of concrete and wood, which are presented as continuous and clean elements.”
Walls of floor-to-ceiling glazing offer views across the bayThe interior layout was largely dictated by the low arches of the elliptic paraboloids that dominate the brutalist restaurant.
“The geometry of the existing structure conditions the space, because its height in its lower part is impractical, so a large bench is arranged around the entire contour that allows us to take advantage of that space and organise the distribution of the rest of the floor plan,” added Guzmán.
Grey porcelain floors mirror the concrete paraboloidsLike the ceiling panels, the interior finishes and furnishings allude to the maritime history that the building commemorates.
“The use of wood and steel for all the furniture is reminiscent of the materials used in shipbuilding – the furniture has slight curvatures that are reminiscent of the aerodynamic shapes of boats,” explained Guzmán.
“Likewise, the lamps are inspired by the masts for ship sails.”
Zooco Estudio also designed the restaurant’s curved timber furnitureAnother key change was the replacement of the perimeter glass wall.
The inclined glazing was swapped for vertical glass, a decision that reclaimed external space for the patio, which stretches the length of the restaurant and overlooks the harbour below.
“When we are inside, the feeling is the same as when we are inside a boat, there is only water around, and that is why we used clean glass from floor to ceiling, generating a perimeter terrace as happens on boats,” said Guzmán.
The terrace features green curvilinear outdoor furnitureOther projects by Zooco Estudio include a renovated house in Madrid and a co-working space with a kids’ play area in California.
The photography is by David Zarzoso.
Project credits:
Architect: Zooco EstudioConstruction: Rotedama Constructora SLLighting: Zooco EstudioFurniture: Zooco Estudio
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Local architecture studio RA! took cues from Latin American art deco design when creating the tiny interior of Los Alexis, a small taqueria in Mexico City’s Roma Norte neighbourhood.
Los Alexis is a taco eatery – or taqueria – in Roma, a famed district in Mexico City, which features examples of art deco architecture.
Los Alexis is a small taqueriaRA! drew on the “vibrant personality” of the area when designing the single 15-square-metre room restaurant, housed within a former beer depository.
“One of the most important requests of our client was for this tiny space to shine among the rest of the retail premises on the street,” said studio co-founder and designer Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar.
RA! clad the floors and walls in a mosaic of broken tilesRA! clad the walls and floors in a distinctive mosaic of broken ceramic tiles with green joints as an ode to Barcelona, where chef Alexis Ayala spent time training, the designer told Dezeen.
A curved bar finished in slabs of ribbed green material fronts the open kitchen, which is positioned on the right of the small open space.
Utilitarian materials were selected for their resilienceUtilitarian materials, including the tiles, were chosen throughout the restaurant for their “endurance and fast cleaning processes”.
White-painted steel breakfast-style stools line the bar, which has a bartop made of steel – selected for its resistance to grease, according to Ramírez de Aguilar.
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The studio decided to preserve the space’s original, peeling ceiling “to create a wider contrast [within the eatery] and to remember the old premises”.
Informal seating lines the pavement just outside of the taqueria where customers can eat and socialise.
The one-room eatery is defined by its bar and open kitchenOther than a small bathroom at the back of Los Alexis, the one-room restaurant is purposefully defined by its bar and open kitchen.
“Typical ‘changarros’ [small shops] in Mexico City are all about the conversation with the cookers, so we tried to have this interaction between people as a main objective,” explained Ramírez de Aguilar.
Founded in 2017, RA! previously created the interiors for a restaurant in the city’s Polanco neighbourhood with a bar counter shaped like an inverted ziggurat.
DOT Coffee Station is another hole-in-the-wall cafe in Kyiv, Ukraine, which YOD Group designed with a similar floor-to-ceiling mosaic of tiles.
The photography is courtesy of RA!
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