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Quetzal
Quetzal
Toronto, Canada
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Quetzal
Toronto, Canada
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2018
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
Quetzal celebrates and preserves generations-old recipes and cooking techniques from Mexico in a luminous, vaulted space that pays homage to the country’s traditional mercados. Fueled exclusively by a wood-burning fire, Quetzal redefines how Mexican food is prepared and experienced in Canada.
With its rippling curvature, distinct geometries, and spare material choices, Quetzal’s design draws inspiration from both the billowing tarps of Mexico’s market stalls and the organic details found in Oaxacan pottery. The space embodies a breezy simplicity and freshness, akin to the cuisine itself, honouring the world’s most basic building ingredients: wood, concrete, plaster. The white, undulating ceiling is punctuated by lucid Canadian maple and concrete details that evoke handmade finishes. From the rolling ceiling, geometrical jigsaw countertops, and tailor-made drip trays, to the use of lightweight concrete that allowed for sculptural fabrication techniques, the design team’s rigorous attention to craftsmanship is evident in the restaurant’s every feature.
The open galley kitchen, which is necessarily compelled by the linearity of the space, becomes a series of metaphorical market stalls that double as distinct culinary landscapes—pit stops along Mexico’s vast lineage of regional cuisines. Every inch of space is optimized to meet the kitchen team’s needs and to tell a story. From the cocktail and ceviche bars to the specialized grills that culminate in the comal—a traditional clay oven used across Mexico—the design collapses the fourth wall, bringing cooks and customers into direct contact with each other.
With its rippling curvature, distinct geometries, and spare material choices, Quetzal’s design draws inspiration from both the billowing tarps of Mexico’s market stalls and the organic details found in Oaxacan pottery. The space embodies a breezy simplicity and freshness, akin to the cuisine itself, honouring the world’s most basic building ingredients: wood, concrete, plaster. The white, undulating ceiling is punctuated by lucid Canadian maple and concrete details that evoke handmade finishes. From the rolling ceiling, geometrical jigsaw countertops, and tailor-made drip trays, to the use of lightweight concrete that allowed for sculptural fabrication techniques, the design team’s rigorous attention to craftsmanship is evident in the restaurant’s every feature.
The open galley kitchen, which is necessarily compelled by the linearity of the space, becomes a series of metaphorical market stalls that double as distinct culinary landscapes—pit stops along Mexico’s vast lineage of regional cuisines. Every inch of space is optimized to meet the kitchen team’s needs and to tell a story. From the cocktail and ceviche bars to the specialized grills that culminate in the comal—a traditional clay oven used across Mexico—the design collapses the fourth wall, bringing cooks and customers into direct contact with each other.
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