Program

 

• Renovation & expansion of an existing structure in order to accommodate the following program for a Restaurant: Covered Terrace housing a 64-seat Outdoor Dining Area and Service Bar; three main Salons accommodating a 10-stool bar, an 86-seat Dining Area, and Wine Cellar; plus two Bathrooms.

• Restaurant had to have two main accesses: Asford Avenue Entrance and Condado Palm Inn & Suites Lobby Entrance; plus a third access to/from the Condado Palm Inn & Suites Pool.   

• Restaurant serves all three main meals.  Thus, its design had to work for all times of day or transform accordingly.

• Final Project Area: 1,980.0 sf (interiors); 1,434.0 sf (covered terrace); 937.0 sf (outdoor terrace).

 

 

Concept

 

• We opted for a concept inspired by tropical modernism; a style still prominent in the Condado Ward, with wonderful standing examples like nearby La Concha Hotel and the old Dutch Inn Hotel, now Condado Palm Inn & Suites, where Ropa Vieja Grill is located.

 

 

Design Proposal

 

• The spotlight of the design is the 1,500 sf Covered Terrace.  The plan was to create an architectural statement/ landmark along main avenues Ashford and Condado.  It was originally planned as an origami sculpture of faceted metal.  Budget considerations simplified the original plan.

• The Covered Terrace is physically (not visually) separated from the bounding sidewalks by a perimeter planter and a 30-inch elevation difference.

• We opened up the Bar & Dining areas to the new Covered Terrace and street views.  This brought much needed light within.

• Faceted surfaces defining the Covered Terrace are present inside the Restaurant as well, in the form of benches, bar counters, and selective walls.

• Tropical modernism-inspired elements include sculptural walls and ceilings, an open plan, colors, terrazzo floors, floor and fabric patterns, luminaries and furniture.

• Floor patterns were custom-designed and manufactured locally.

• Floor pattern colors (including tan, teal and green) bring to mind the colors of the sand and sea.  The yellow canopy above stands for the Caribbean sun.