Tori-Tori Restaurant Mexico : Architecture Information

JAPANESE RESTAURANT TORI-TORI IN MEXICO CITY BY ROJKIND ARQUITECTOS AND ESRAWE STUDIO NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION Michel Rojkind Arquitectos / Esrawe Studio 15 Sep 2009 / new images released 23 Sep 2009 Reception area ; Reception area ; Tea Room images : Esrawe Studio Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in Mexico City and due to its remarkable success, Tori-Tori is now moving to a bigger location in the same area of Polanco, Mexico City, where Architect Michel Rojkind and Industrial Designer Hector Esrawe teamed up to make it happen. At the residential area in Polanco that has seen changes in its zoning, houses have been transformed to office spaces or restaurants. Sometimes things happen so unnoticeably, that just a small sign appears where a new space has been developed with a completely different program inside, while preserving its exterior. Aware of this, Rojkind and Esrawe wanted to give enough strength to the new program that they proposed to transform the space inside out. Taking advantage of the plot’s conditions, the parking space will be left where it is, to use the budget mainly for restructuring and renovating the house, stripping the residential interior and removing all familiar features to produce an entirely different environment. Bar ; Restaurant images : Esrawe Studio ‘We are being coherent with its culinary know-how and creating the accurate environment and situations for a gastronomical experience. The final result is achieved not only by working with the client but with his complete staff as well.' 2-4 Although the client’s requirements were oriented towards a Japanese interpretation, it was not literal, he wanted the place to have its own personal expression, contemporary and cosmopolitan, by enhancing its spatial existing conditions through different experiences, the new range of open spaces, its terraces, its sake bar and its own exclusive temple oriented to the highly demanding sushi lovers. images © Glessner Group with artist Guido Torres Maintaining a very intimate and subtle feel towards the first encounter with the exterior, once you enter you’ll find yourself in a terrace, where eating and drinking are embraced by natural vegetation. The building’s organic façade and landscape were carefully designed to become an extension of the restaurant creating a strong relationship between the inside and the outside. The interior receives and follows the exterior with subtle contrasts. Each room has its own nature and shows a clear relationship with its function. The furniture was inspired and made for Tori Tori and developed with a direct orientation through each space. During more than eight months a complete collection of chairs and tables where created, for both exterior and interior use. ‘We seek in the project a chance for the users to link with the different ambiances and choose their favorites. Each space’s materials, setup and characteristics towards the furniture generate a wide spectrum of options and sensations for its assiduous clients.’ I.D. Héctor Esrawe, ESRAWE studio. images © Glessner Group The Façade, which seems to emerge from the ground climbing up through the building, as if mimicking the natural ivy surrounding the retaining walls, is made up of two selfsupporting layers of steel plates cut with a CNC machine and handcrafted to exact specifications. 'At rojkind arquitectos we are very rigorous about experimenting with digital design as well as getting things built. That’s why we have specially focused on how to translate complex geometries into very simple and understandable drawings that benefit from local manufacturing, as is the case of working in Mexico City. Our vast experience building over the past years has made us aware of the incredible local labor that would be very difficult to get in different countries. Depending on the geographical location of new commissions given to the office we do enough research to understand in which area we can benefit from local conditions and enhance the final result to make it unique.’ Michel Rojkind, rojkind arquitectos. The facade’s pattern responds to the inside openings, filtering light, shadows, and views that will constantly invade the interior spaces. An atmosphere enriched by the spectrum of subtle changes. Tori-Tori Restaurant Mexico City images / information from Michel Rojkind Arquitectos images © Glessner Group Tori-Tori Restaurant Mexico City - Building Information PROJECT: Tori Tori Restaurant CITY: Mexico City COUNTRY: Mexico CONSTRUCTION: 629 sq.meters PROGRAM: Japanese Restaurant CLIENT: Dr. Katsumi Kumoto Kawasaki DESIGN YEAR: 2008 DATE OF COMPLETION: 2010 CREDIT LIST: ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT: rojkind arquitectos [Michel Rojkind] + ESRAWE Studio [Héctor Esrawe] rojkind arquitectos PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE: Michel Rojkind PROJECT TEAM: Tere Levy, Agustín Pereyra, Raúl Araiza, Carlos Alberto Ríos, Isaac Smeke Jaber, Enrique F. de la Barrera ESRAWE Studio PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE: Héctor Esrawe PROJECT TEAM: Ricardo Casas, Basia Pineda, Ian Castillo, Karianne Rygh, Alejandra Castelao, Jorge Bracho FACADE CONSULTANTS [3D STUDIES]: Kokkugia [Roland Snooks, Robert Stuart- Smith] FACADE ENGINEERING: GRUPO MAS [Ing. Eduardo Flores] CONSTRUCTION: ZDA desarrollo + arquitectura [Yuri Zagorin] LIGHTING DESIGN: luz en arquitectura [Arq. Kai Diederichsen] AUDIO & VIDEO PROJECT: NTX New Technology Experience LANDSCAPE DESIGN: entorno taller de paisaje STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Ing. Juan Felipe Heredia M.E.P.: QUANTUM Design FURNITURE: ESRAWE Studio KITCHEN: San-Son VISUALIZATION: © Glessner Group INVITED ARTIST: Photographer Guido Torres