paola navone wraps ibaji restaurant in fragmented tiles

paola navone wraps ibaji restaurant in fragmented tiles
all images courtesy of paola navone

italian designer paola navone recently completed ‘ibaji’, the small pocket restaurant serving korean cuisine in paris.  as an infill project with a relatively small footprint, the navone was careful to craft a structure that created a comfortable space that mirrored the quality of the food and maintained a sense of playfulness and social interaction. the existing timber roof structure, with its withering and irregular beams were left exposed and painted white to fit in with the overall palette of color. every other surface, both inside and out, is covered in a mosaic of broken white tiles that define a rather organic cracked skin. the reflectivity of the glossy tiles reflects the various dots of colorful lights making the surfaces feel smooth despite the constant joint lines that actually give it texture. the long tables and bars promote interaction with others in your party or complete strangers, adding to the cultural experience of eating in the small locale.

main sitting area

bar table

all elements of the restaurant, down to the cutlery, fits within the designed motif