GGlab + janfridesign sculpt contrapunto restaurant with timber

GGlab + janfridesign sculpt contrapunto restaurant with timber
photo © jose manuel hourcade
all images courtesy of GGlab and janfridesign

‘contrapunto restaurant’ is the result of a collaboration between GGlab and janfridesign studio.  the design is located in the salón del túria room on the ground floor of the palau de les arts, under the cantilever generated by the theater lobby of the opera house. 

with views towards the city of valencia, the interior space is organized around a microarchitecture which dominates and articulates the room. it takes shape in the form of a sculpture constructed out of timber strips with a dual function. on one hand, it repeats and thus continues the outdoor spatial experience, concluding a sequence of cascade-like spaces. on the other, it improves the acoustics of the room and creates a figural attraction which can be seen from the outside.

longitudinal view of the sculpture
photo © jose manuel hourcade

for the supporting structure, curved tubes provide stability while thin strands of wood run against them horizontally. thus, the weave appears to constantly change as diners circulate to their seats, with its contours creating a moiré effect that skews boundaries and views from one side of the restaurant to the other. the wooden structure has been made both with digital design and fabrication techniques by GGlab, and traditional woodworking techniques by manolo garcía.

view of the dining room
photo © jose manuel hourcade

interior lightning detail
photo © jose manuel hourcade

closeup interior lightning detail
photo © jose manuel hourcade

view of the dining room
photo © jose manuel hourcade

exterior perspective of main access and terrace
photo © jose manuel hourcade

construction process

concept diagram 

timber structure detail 

timber structure detail 

restaurant plan

project info:

completion: 2013
location: valencia, spain.
designers: GGlab and janfridesign
designers in charge: janfri vázquez, josé ramón tramoyeres
design team: nuria olcina, jaume verdeguer
client: gourmet catering espacios valencia

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.