RAW:almond is the first ever outdoor fine dining restaurant on a frozen body of water. Situated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada this outdoor winter event has seen two very successful years. For RAW:almond 2015 the organizers held an international open competition for architects, to create a beautiful restaurant using scaffolding and tarpaulin. We were delighted to be announced winners.
Judges’ comments:
The RAW:almond jury found the design proposal by OS31 exceeded the expectations with regards to design, feasibility and response to the design brief.
The Restaurant opened in late January 2015 for 3 weeks. Over 3000 meals were served in that time.
Design Approach:
The design creates an expressive frame that floats across the ice like a frozen jetty, whilst providing a dining experience that is clear from structure.
The exterior and interior are expressed as separate forms, one enclosed inside the other. The structure references the bridge with its repetitive rhythms. The skin that defines the interior space is more sculptural like drifts of snow.
The plan is made up of two clashing geometries inspired by the joining of the rivers. This grounds it in the context and defines dining, kitchen and entrance spaces
About OS31
The project team consisted of Tony, Matt Pearson and Ross Jordan.