Project: Migrante Restaurant
Interior Design: Alejandra Medina
Lighting Designer: BCA Taller de Diseño
Place: Colonia Roma, Ciudad de México
Year: 2020
Surface: 236m2
Photo: Marcos Betanzos
The interior design arises from talks with Chef Fernando MartÃnez Zavala and his last trip to Japan, his idea was to create a clean place, with respect for space and that also show a certain discipline. Looking for the materials to be as natural as possible. The result is a fusion between the straight and practical lines of the Scandinavian style with the exquisite Japanese aesthetic, a very warm and earthy atmosphere.
The property was in rough construction so all the finishes could be proposed, including the exterior windows that it shares with the building that houses it. For the floor they chose a Kumarú wooden stave with a striped texture, the partition and polished cement are the protagonists of the walls, which are highlighted by the indirect lighting that bathes them. Almost everything is open to the public, kitchen, bar and even the bakery area that is located in a loft.
With the name of the restaurant “Migrante” (translation in spanish for a person who travels to another place or country – Migrant) and influenced by Japanese culture for Alejandra Medina, the image that related to this was a white heron. Lookin for a more international evocation, she simply thought of a flock of birds moving their course as a group; what makes sense with the cuisine of this restaurant that would also be a movement of ingredients with flavors from all over the world. This is how, with the help and creation of the artist and designer Jorge Reyes, a flock of birds was formed that roam the restaurant, whose subtle presence and distribution fill the double-height ceiling with cadence.
Vegetation and still life are another important protagonist that decorates the Migrante restaurant. The lighting design makes all the textures of the materials stand out and at the same time makes the environment welcoming for customers, without sacrificing the punctual and sufficient light that the preparation areas in the kitchen and bar must have. The architect in charge of the lighting design was Carlos Carreño, director of BCA Design Workshop. Without a doubt, this restaurant is a clear example of the experience that Alejandra Medina has in this type of project for gastronomy and good living.
