Delicious on the eye

PHOTOS: Paul Rivera

Polanco, a once-residential area in Mexico, has been transformed into a district of offices and restaurants. Many of these new establishments kept the old homes as they were, but not Tori Tori. This trendy Japanese restaurant wanted passersby to be well aware that their building is more than a repurposed house.

The striking façade, although barely visible from the sidewalk, is an ivy retaining wall. The wall which appears to be climbing like ivy from the earth, mimics the actual ivy surrounding the retaining walls. These walls are made from CNC-cut steel plates, handcrafted to exact specifications. At night the famous sushi restaurant exudes a blue hue while also filtering light, shadows, and views from the exterior in.

The client’s requirements for the restaurant, considered the best in Mexico, were oriented towards a Japanese interpretation with an emphasis on the place having its own expression. This was achieved by architects Rojkind Arquitectos and interior designers Esrawe Studio – who also fulfilled the client’s wish for the building to exude a contemporary and cosmopolitan aesthetic. The team achieved this internally by enhancing the existing spatial conditions of the building through different experiences, creating a range of open spaces, terraces, a sake bar, and an exclusive temple.

Maintaining an intimate and subtle feel from the first encounter with the exterior, the inside of the restaurant uses encompassing vegetation to pull through the organic feel of the restaurant’s façade. Eating terraces make use of vertical gardens, while pops of green furniture accentuate the natural ambience.

The furniture within Tori Tori was specifically designed for the restaurant. Each piece was developed with the space in which it would be placed in mind.

Through Rojkind Arquitecto’s rigorous experimentation, a building has been transformed to relay its function in a unique, contemporary and eye-catching style. There’s no chance visitors to Polanco will mistake Tori Tori for a place of residence or even a run-of-the-mill office block. With a reputation that precedes it, this sushi restaurant impresses from a distance, and right down to the most minute detail within.

It’s said that while Korean food is for the stomach, and Chinese food is for the mouth, Japanese food is for the eye. Tori Tori has certainly embraced this maxim with a space as visually exquisite as the platters it lays before its discerning patrons.

More information: www.rojkindarquitectos.com