Design Territory: rojkind arquitectos: tori-tori restaurant construction

'tori tori' restaurant, mexico city
photo © rojkind arquitectos

considered one of the best japanese restaurants in mexico city and due to its success, tori-tori is now moving to a bigger location in the same area of polanco, mexico city, where architect michel rojkind of rojkind arquitectos and industrial designer hector esrawe of esrawe studio teamed up to make it happen.

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.

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, once you enter you’ll find yourself in a terrace, where eating and drinking are embraced by natural vegetation. the building’s organic facade and landscape were carefully designed to become an extension of the restaurant creating a strong relationship between the inside and the outside.

the facade as if mimicking the natural ivy surrounding the retaining walls, is made up of two self supporting layers of steel plates cut with a CNC machine and handcrafted to exact specifications.

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.

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 were created, for both exterior and interior use.