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Architects: Hiero Arc
- Area: 6028 ft²
- Year: 2022
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Photographs:Igor Carvalho
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Lead Architects: Samara Almeida, Guilherme Castro
Text description provided by the architects. In the interior of Brazil, in the Midwest region, specifically in Goiás, the Ikigai restaurant project aims to blend two passions of the owners: gastronomy and gardening. Additionally, the place offers an experience that allows visitors to take a break from the hustle and bustle of urban life, enabling a connection with a serene environment. The restaurant seeks to provide an experience of peace and simplicity, offering a glimpse of what is truly sublime and natural.
The pursuit of authenticity and naturalness permeates various aspects of the project. Raw materials, exposed installations, revealed structures, and the simplicity of the furniture, such as wire chairs, aims to reflect the identity of the local culture.
The beauty and form of plants fill the space, captivating those who frequent it. The presence of a water mirror provides areas for contemplation and relaxation, creating a sense of immersion in nature. Along with abundant natural lighting and ventilation, the project intends to transform the restaurant into a temporary retreat.
The restaurant's operation occupies an old house, adapted to accommodate technical areas. The kitchen is visually integrated into the main hall, allowing direct interaction between chefs and customers. The large glass opening creates a visual connection, turning the environment into a stage that attracts those interested in the gastronomic process.
In the neighboring plot, incorporated into the project, areas for customers are located: reception, waiting area, and dining hall for tables. The metal mesh delineates the covered space, emphasizing the courtyards through voids. Tables, landscaping, and the water mirror integrate into a geometric system, forming a simple mesh on the floor and roof. Landscaping, occupying voids, lines of sight, floor, wall, and ceiling, adds complexity to what initially seems to be a simple construction.
The owner, who enjoys planting and caring for plants as a hobby, transforms the space into a nursery, where seedlings are sold to customers, providing a constant transformation of the restaurant's landscape.
The project includes an Omakasse-style kitchen for exclusive gastronomic services and customer service. The space features a centralized counter to welcome customers and serves as a kitchen laboratory, where the chef creates and tests signature dishes, conducts courses and produces virtual content. Dramatization is added to the scene through a single wooden pendant, resembling a lantern, which exclusively illuminates the dishes and gastronomic production.
It is evident the realization of a place that becomes a restaurant-nursery, seamlessly integrating these two functions, offering the best of both worlds to users.
