weijenberg weaves sculpted timber element around RAW restaurant in taipei

weijenberg weaves sculpted timber element around RAW restaurant in taipei
all images courtesy of weijenberg

merging gastronomy with design has led to the creation of RAW restaurant located in taiwan’s capital city. the interior collaboration is a project between singapore based studio weijenberg and the restaurant owner and chef- andré chiang. reflecting the menu, the interiors mimic how chef andré’s food can be experienced. accentuated by the sculptural timber structure which softly weaves and curves itself through the space, it integrates as seating, surfaces, the bar counter and a decorative element; creating a journey and subtle transition from the bustling city streets into the distinctive establishment.

 in total, the organic timber structure is approximately 65m long- handcrafted by carpenters and assembled piece by piece. with this prominent feature acting as a visual and functional focal point, the rest of the décor has been left modest and simple, enabling the focus to be between the customer and the food – whilst eating, the lighting highlights the dish being served, emphasizing the intimate atmosphere the chef and designer wanted to evoke.

the aim of the interiors is to create an intimate and unique dining experience

designer at weijenberg comments: ‘for us it was important not to have distinct partitions as we felt this ‘boxy’ approach would be restrictive for a highly creative chef. we made raw intentionally interior borderless, yet we still needed to intertwine restaurant operations and functionality with design. this created a complex challenge as we had articulated a geometry that needed to have a strong practical element to it. most of the sculpture is purposeful with storage, a wine island and a large counter by the entrance without compromising the beauty of the design.’

using computer technology, the sculptural element was realized

it is held up with double anchor points on each node + reinforced with steel on the inside

the eatery was created to reflect the visceral and primitive nature of its namesake ‘RAW’

exterior façade