PROJECT Tazza Kitchen (Short Pump)
LOCATION Henrico, Virginia,
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 8/24/2013
ARCHITECT Streetsense
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT Herb Heiserman
OWNER/CLIENT Tazza Kitchen
CONTRACTOR North Lake Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER
Derek Bennion
DESIGN TEAM
Gabriela Philippon, Studio Head; Rhena Saar, Senior Project Designer; Alexis Testler, Project Manager; Katie Kelchner, Project Manager
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
With three locations, Short Pump Crossing in Richmond, VA, Cameron Village in Raleigh, NC, and Arlington Ridge in Arlington, VA, Tazza Kitchen is a Baja meets Mediterranean restaurant concept with a focus on brick oven cuisine and an extensive wine program. Tazza’s Baja Mediterranean cuisine is the essence of the brand and all that surrounds it is a backdrop to the food being served. When Tazza Kitchen’s owners came to Streetsense to help them develop their new concept and remodel their existing Short Pump Crossing restaurant, the team leapt at the design potential. The budget for the project began at $350,000 for interior renovation, but was increased to close to $1,000,000 to incorporate the creation of the new brand, new spatial relationships, added facilities, as well essential materials that were important to use in the interior and exterior design. This project initially came as a renovation to include the provision of a new shed roof for possible exterior seating, reconfiguring of interior seating, minor bar changes and some finishes. As we looked further into the design, in conjunction with the operation of the restaurant and a poor, narrow hall-like space, we created a layout and design that surpassed the initial scope of work. As we all realized that the expansion of the exterior seating was to increase the number of customers, the new scope included expanding the restrooms, opening the kitchen, opening the ceiling within these narrow interior rooms, creating structural looking elements to define the differing seating areas, and designing a whole new bar that encompassed their new focal point, their tiled pizza oven. Both the architect and the client worked together to find materials that represented the branded concept – materials that not only demonstrated the Mediterranean and Baja California flavors, but also were “sourced regionally” – a core element of the concept that is in their menu as well as their environment. The natural beauty of the landscape of Baja Mexico, its wineries and olive mills, are the inspiration for the food and the design of the restaurant. Raw materials echoing the colors of this region, its woods, living plants and stones, are used as a backdrop for spaces defined with simple lines and canopies of metal, as found in contemporary Baja architecture. Natural wood, steel and stone allow attention to focus on bright colors of the food and the living green wall. Calming greens and natural greys of granite and concrete are brought onto the furnishings and millwork. The design of the restaurant interior extends to the exterior with the use of the same materials and color palette. The ceiling grid extends to a new trellis covering a new patio seating area. The concrete floor pattern flows out from the interior energy zone of the bar to the existing exterior patio. The restaurant’s aesthetic echoes its unique food concept, centered around a large tiled wood-fired oven flanked by a wine feature wall that transforms bottles into artwork. A living wall, which pays homage to Mediterranean olive mills and wineries that root the concept, tops off the iconic design. All these elements provide a unifying design of the brand.
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 Tazza Kitchen_high res ext. The interior design extends to the exterior with the use of the same materials and color palette. The ceiling grid extends to a new trellis covering a new patio seating area. The concrete floor pattern flows out from the interior energy zone of the bar to the existing exterior patio. Photo by Derek Bennion
IMAGE 2 Tazza Kitchen_high res int. Page 2 Raw materials echoing the colors of this region, its woods, living plants and stones, are used as a backdrop for spaces defined with simple lines and canopies of metal, as found in contemporary Baja architecture. Photo by Derek Bennion.
IMAGE 3 Tazza Kitchen_Photo 1. Natural wood, steel and stone allow attention to focus on bright colors of the food and the living green wall in the main dining room. Calming greens and natural greys of granite and concrete are brought onto the furnishings and millwork. Photo by Derek Bennion.
IMAGE 4 Tazza Kitchen_Photo 2. Feature wall including wine bottle artwork. Photo by Derek Bennion.
IMAGE 5 Tazza Kitchen_Photo 3. Bar Dining Room. Photo by Derek Bennion.
IMAGE 6 Tazza Kitchen_Photo 4. Bar Dining Room. Photo by Derek Bennion.
IMAGE 7
Media For Download
Project PDF
Tazza Kitchen (Short Pump)
Category
AIA Potomac Valley > Interior Architecture (AIA Potomac Valley)
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