dosa studio + TAAC transform early 20th century manor into taco restaurant in mexico city

dosa studio and TAAC have collaborated on the newest branch of el auténtico pato manila – a restaurant serving traditional tacos fused with asian street food in mexico city – transforming the basement of an early twentieth century manor into a contemporary taqueria. divided in two main areas, service and patrons, the 46 sqm interior is characterized by an open kitchen, which serves as the centerpiece of the restaurant, defining the functionality and flow, as well as long mirrors on the walls that give a sense of spaciousness. images by oscar hernández, ricardo de la concha

 within the walls of the basement of the casa basalta manor, dosa studio and TAAC have fused the spatial essence of two rich gastronomical cultures that mix together in the kitchen: a traditional tacos restaurant coming together with asian street food, all within an intimate and ordered atmosphere. el auténtico pato manila is divided in two main areas, separated by the existing thick structural walls of the manor and connected by a central hallway, forming an H-shaped floor plan.

long mirrors on the walls help to give a sense of spaciousness and exalt the stainless-steel and brass elements of the restaurant, while hand-made terrazzo floors allude to the aesthetics of traditional mexico city taquerias and contrast with the white ceramics. irregularly, almost random, placed lighting fixtures break the symmetry and order of the space, each hanging from the ceiling at different heights.

project info:

name: el auténtico pato manila

architect: dosa studio + TAAC

architect in charge: raúl medina, sergio sousa, ricardo de la concha, josé mario ramírez

collaborator: paola monreal, gustavo guadarrama, karen cabrera, marcela segovia

location: colima 159, mexico city, mexico

total built area: 46 m2