Gallery

Description

Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in Mexico City and due to its remarkable success, Tori-Tori moved to a bigger location in the same area of Polanco, Mexico City, where Rojkind Arquitectos and Esrawe Studio teamed up to create the new building. At Polanco, a residential area that has seen changes in its zoning, houses have been transformed to office spaces or restaurants, sometimes in such an unnoticeably way, that just a small sign appears where a new space has been developed with a completely different interior program, while preserving its exterior. Aware of this, Rojkind and Esrawe intended 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 main focus was placed on renovating the house, stripping the residential interior to produce an entirely different environment. 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 existing spatial conditions through different experiences, the new range of open spaces, its terraces, its sake bar and its own exclusive temple oriented at highly demanding sushi lovers.

Maintaining a very intimate and subtle feel towards the first encounter with the exterior, after entering, the visitor will find himself 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, 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.

Biography

rojkind arquitectos is a Mexico City based innovative firm, founded in 2002, whose work spans across a diverse and global platform providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban strategies. The firm has a multinational team that gathers experts from all fields, involved in a highly collaborative, research and experimental based design process. Committed to achieving design excellence, this practice pursue a fascination for thorough investigation and exploration of contemporary programs, latest technologies and the translation of complex digital design into simple solutions for local fabrication.

rojkind arquitectos has been selected to participate in several Honors and Awards, including nominations for the Marcus Prize, USA (2011, 2009, 2007), the Iacov Chernikhov Prize, Russia (2010, 2008, 2006) and the Ordos Prize, China (2009). In 2010 the firm was featured by ProMéxico Magazine as one of the “50 Mexican Names in the Global Creative Scene”. In 2011 Michel Rojkind was named by Wallpaper* Magazine as one of the “150 movers, shakers and makers that have rocked the world in the last 15 years”.