Location

Culver City, California

Program

Restaurant

Size

5,500 square feet including roof deck

Dates

2007-2016

Key Staff

Dolan Daggett, Hugo Ventura, Vanessa Jauregui, Zarmine Nigohos, Kyoung Kim, Fausto Nunes, Daniel Hapton, Cayetana Lopez, Eric McNevin, Andrew M Wright

Key Consultants

General Contractor, Building Core & Shell: Samitaur Constructs

General Contractor, Restaurant: Howard CDM

Structural Engineering: NAST Enterprises

Electrical Engineering: Moses & Associates

Mechanical Engineer: Project MEP

Surveyor: J.O. Nelson Land Surveyors

Landscape Architect: Land Images

Steel Banquette Fabrication: Tom Farrage & Co.

Precast Concrete Fabrication: QCP

Furniture Fabrication: A Single Tree

Structural and Facade Steel Fabrication: Plas-tal

Kitchen Consultant: KRB Specialists

Awards

AIA/LA Restaurant Design Honor Award, 2019

AISC Ideas Award, 2019

LABC Grand Prize, 2018

LABC Best Restaurant, 2018

Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, 2018

Time Magazine World's Greatest Places, 2018

Key Publications

Eric Owen Moss Archtects/3585, The Ohio State University

Photographer

Tom Bonner Photography

A preliminary study model made from a square pile of note paper, describes a concept for a tower which is not quite a regular box, nor a clear, spatial departure from the regular box. Rather the model suggests a conceptually soft geometry, or better, a twisted tower.

The tower twists along its height – rotates slightly, both clockwise at the top and counterclockwise toward the bottom. The plan shape and size is maintained as the tower volume pivots. The curvature of the form is conveyed by the horizontal and vertical steel plate grid that frames the glass enclosure. As the curvature increases, the spacing between plates is decreased to maintain the planar glass panel subdivision.

The proposed glazing system is composed of horizontal and vertical ‘fins.’ Glazing components were never curved, so the outer curving surfaces are conveyed as the aggregate of the plate steel fins. This new structure will serve as the home of an exclusive restaurant.

The internal structural frame closely follows the exterior shape. Four corner columns undergo a series of compound miters to reflect the curving form. The building consists of a ground floor, a mezzanine, a second floor, and an open-air roof deck connected by an internal stair and elevator.

The interior will be an intricately curated experience.

The restaurant entrance is marked by a pool lined with concrete blocks, formed to a curve, and filled with water. Guests enter at the ground level and are escorted to their seats on the floor above. The mezzanine level serves as the main dining floor, an intimate setting with seating for only 22 patrons upon custom built steel banquettes surrounding CNC-milled translucent acrylic tabletops. As guests exit they will pass by a curved 26 foot long table, suspended from the mezzanine and second floor ceilings, which delivers a keepsake upon their departure.

An outdoor garden of equal footprint as the tower is located to the east. The garden consists of mounded earth, concrete tables and stairs, and planted flora to serve as an outdoor gathering space for casual dining and cocktails.

A secondary support building, the Wedge, will be built to the west of the site, abutting the original warehouse structure.