Tori Tori

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Tori Tori creates multiple and unexpected experiences for sushi lovers transforming an existing house from the inside out.

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Location

Mexico City

Client

Private

Year

2010

Status

Built

Program

Master Plan, Restaurant

Areas of Exploration

Fabrication, Pattern, Repetition, Steel

Construction Area

629 square meters (6,770 square feet)

Partners

Rojkind Arquitectos + Esrawe Studio

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. Rojkind Arquitectos and Esrawe Studio teamed up to designed the new space.

Site plan © Rojkind Arquitectos

The residential area of Polanco has seen zoning changes, therefore, houses have been transformed into offices and restaurants. Sometimes things happen unnoticeably, with just a small sign appearing to define a new space with a completely different program while its exterior is preserved. Taking this into account, Rojkind and Esrawe wanted to give enough strength to the new program to transform the space from the inside out.

Taking advantage of the plot’s conditions, the main focus was to renovate the house, stripping the residential interior and removing all familiar features to produce an entirely different environment.

Project diagram © Rojkind Arquitectos

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

The client’s requirements were oriented towards a Japanese interpretation, but not a literal one. 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 towards 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 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.

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

The interior 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 towards each space. During more than eight months, a complete collection of chairs and tables were created, for both exterior and interior use.

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

“In this project, we seek 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 regular clients.”
-Héctor Esrawe, ESRAWE Studio

Photo © Paul Rivera Courtesy of Rojkind Arquitectos

Construction © Rojkind Arquitectos

The façade, which seems to emerge from the ground climbing up through the building 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.

“At Rojkind Arquitectos we rigorously experiment with digital design, we also believe it’s important to build utilizing this tool. 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.”
-Michel Rojkind

Construction © Rojkind Arquitectos

Construction © Rojkind Arquitectos

The façade’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.