The present work consisted in the conversion of the old art materials store, “Casa Varela”, into a restaurant. The proposed intervention consisted in taking advantage of the previously existent building and patio. The main public access areas are the main dining-room on the ground-floor that extends to the patio initially as a roof-covered terrace, and as an uncovered terrace on the end.
The covered area has a slight transparent cover, with an opening through where an implanted tree grows in the center of this semi-exterior space.
On the first floor we find a bar and lounge like space, in mezzanine, that opens over the inferior room through an opened space.
The kitchens are situated on the ground floor, side by side with the gable. From the building front to the interior, we find the preparation kitchen, followed by the “hots” kitchen and finally the “colds” kitchen. Both these kitchens are open to the main room. The dirty cup is located in the transition between kitchens and articulates through a small opening. The main storage areas are found on the first floor.
Two circuits were created, one for the client and one for the staff. The public accesses the restaurant through the main entrance, that opens to a hall. At this point, there’s a main stair that provides access to the first floor and a corridor that provides access to the ground floor room. The sanitary facilities are located over the right side gable, on the ground floor.
The staff accesses the building through a service entrance. From that entrance, emerges a service stairway with access to the first floor, directly to the staff dressing room area.
On the main building front we proceeded to the global restoration of the same, maintaining the original drawing unaltered. The existing frame of the old arts materials was replaced by a new aluminum black lacquered frame.