TOMODACHI RAMEN BAR / BOGOTA / 2015
The concept for this narrow restaurant was to recreate the feel of an alley in a traditional Japanese town. The design elements explore contrasts between interior and exterior, past and future, light and shadow, and private and public spaces. Our goal was to craft a space that is both highly emotional and sober.
With a total floor area of only 35 square meters and a width of just 2.4 meters, the layout is incredibly narrow. We needed to accommodate all essential functions of the restaurant, including the kitchen, seating for 24 customers, a bathroom, and optimized storage for every millimeter of space.
The space is defined by the interaction of large wooden furniture pieces. On one side, there is a light wooden "hisashi" structure integrated with a long bench, which allows for flexible table arrangements. On the opposite side, an 8-meter-long, floor-to-ceiling dark wood closet, designed using the traditional Japanese "itazukuri" construction method, acts as a façade. The position, size, and color of this closet intentionally alter the perception of the space, making it feel even smaller and more intimate.
Photography courtesy Revista Habitar, Matilde Cárdenas and Tomodachi