hou de sousa: quito restaurant dim sum bar

hou de sousa: quito restaurant dim sum bar
all images courtesy of hou de sousa

focusing on detailed surfaces and lighting, the quito restaurant ‘dim sum bar’ by architecture firm hou de sousa combines both contemporary and classic design elements. the existing space was highly irregular in both shape and proportion, a perimeter of load bearing concrete walls limited renovations to the layout. the architects collaborated with the client, who had purchased a set of tables and chairs for the space, which were then incorporated into the new design. the pieces feature white leather cushions set on dark wooden frames with a ribbed backrest – these components provided an aesthetic vocabulary that was applied throughout the project. the limitations of improving the internal structure required an experiment concerning two-dimensionality and depth. the privacy screens that divide the space appear to be traditional chinese doors, but the seemingly random pattern of perforations actually contain a hidden message. the inner linings of the perforations were painted white on one side only, ‘dim sum bar’ is spelled out repeatedly, but only visible from certain angles. the entry signage is composed of holes that have been drilled into the wall that are then backlit. the vitrines that display the wines contain only one layer of bottles, but due to the mirror’s reflections, a 2d grid appears as an infinite 3d matrix.

the bar is made of white acrylic, dark local wood and black granite, an array of fluorescent bulbs light the bar from within

view of the bar from the window side of the room

the main dining area showing the detailed patterned sufaces

the existing space was highly irregular in both shape and proportion

looking towards the exit

corner bottle vitrine 

the entrance of dim sum bar, the signage consists of back-lit holes that were drilled into the wall

bottle vitrine detail

this wall detail features variations of the chinese character for ‘good fortune’ from different historical periods

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