CASE STUDY
Another unusual and interesting feature is the blending of the restaurant space with the kitchen, where tortillas are baked, tacos are prepared, and dishes are grilled and cooked in a wood-fired oven right before the guests’ eyes. Ceviche is prepared in the fish tank section, with the individual ingredients almost within reach. The kitchen, like the large cocktail bar upstairs, has an authentic design and material solution, including a beverage display case that extends over the bar to another gallery.
The galleries are supported by columns covered with stone reliefs featuring Mayan pictographic motifs, which feature original alphabet characters created exclusively for the Mexican restaurant by graphic designer Petr Štěpán in collaboration with the architects and sculptors.
The Latin American atmosphere is emphasized by a combination of references to historical civilizations that are an integral part of Mexican culture, perhaps even the colonial spirit, in the monumental symmetry of the space and the famously raw atmosphere of Mexican streets, which are primarily functional and decorated only as time has allowed.
Structure and Materials. The newly built galleries consist of a steel support frame made of solid profiles in turquoise blue and walkable oak planks. The upper bridge of the central staircase platform seems to levitate in space, as the glass floor is supported only by subtle metal profiles on two circular columns. The impression of airiness is completed by black steel mesh replacing the railing.
The material and visual design of the stair treads are particularly unique. To achieve the desired effect, they are composed of individual milled boards that are screwed together, and the entire tread is then poured with epoxy resin mixed with“ gold” flakes. The individual steps are connected to each other with screws and fitted with walkable glass. Spot lighting then illuminates the entire staircase, making it the dominant feature of the otherwise monochromatic interior.
Photographs: BoysPlayNice www. boysplaynice. com
www. 2020architekti. cz
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