architecture
Francisco Salgado Ré
CLIENT
Tábua Rasa
date
2015
location
Porto, Portugal
size
160sqm
status
Completed
THE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT FOR THE TÁBUA RASA RESTAURANT, LOCATED ON RUA DA PICARIA IN PORTO, REFLECTS THE PHYSICAL MATERIALIZATION OF THE CORE VALUES OF THE GASTRONOMIC BRAND FOUNDED BY FRANCISCO SALGADO RÉ AND CAROLINA MATOS. CREATED WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING AND ELEVATING THE FINEST TRADITIONAL AND ARTISANAL PORTUGUESE PRODUCTS — WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON CHEESES, CURED MEATS, AND WINES —, THE RESTAURANT STANDS AS THE INITIAL HEART AND EXPERIENTIAL ENGINE OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
THE ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION VISUALLY TRANSLATES THIS MANIFESTO OF AUTHENTICITY, CONVERTING AN URBAN COMMERCIAL SPACE INTO AN IMMERSIVE AND IDENTITY-DRIVEN EXPERIENCE THAT HOSTS THE EXQUISITE LOCAL GASTRONOMY. THE SPATIAL STRATEGY IS ORGANIZED THROUGH A CLEAR AND LINEAR FLOOR PLAN, RIGOROUSLY PLANNED TO OPTIMIZE SERVICE FLOWS AND QUALITY OF THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND COMFORT.
THE MATERIAL PALETTE IS DELIBERATELY RESTRAINED AND FOCUSED ON CONSTRUCTIVE HONESTY. THE STRUCTURAL AND DECORATIVE USE OF WARM-TONED WOOD ESTABLISHES A DIRECT ANALOGY WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE SHARED BOARD, DEFINING THE CUSTOM-DESIGNED FURNITURE, THE CLADDING PLANES, AND THE SCENIC LIGHTING AXES THAT PUNCTUATE THE SPACE.
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN NATURAL TEXTURES AND THE PRECISION OF TECHNICAL DESIGN LENDS THE RESTAURANT AN INTIMATE, SOBER, AND TIMELESS ATMOSPHERE. THE ARCHITECTURE ACTS AS A DISCREET YET RIGOROUS SUPPORT FOR THE GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE, PERMANENTLY ALIGNING THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT WITH THE PREMISES OF SUSTAINABILITY, ORIGIN, AND EXCELLENCE THAT CHARACTERIZE THE BRAND AND ITS VARIOUS PRODUCT FAMILIES.