The Barrio Restaurant project involved a close collaboration with three owners of a premier Southwest dining establishment. Located in downtown Tucson, the restaurant takes up the bottom floor of a two-story building that dates to 1914. Built in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the historic façade of the building, the design plays off the “old” brick building with new playful forms and re-interpretations of existing materials.

Designed within a limited budget, the concept creates space within the tight framework of the original structure and then expands this space to the outside dining area. Framed overhead with a tensioned fabric canopy, this exterior dining area is lit from below at night to become a welcoming lantern directing guests to the front entry. The interior is anchored on one side with a linear natural cherry wood bar with a 50′ long continuous painting of abstracted Palo-Verde trees at the other side. The restaurant is zoned into different levels to distinguish entry, main dining and private dining.

Working closely with a local artist, colors and textures were chosen to play off the earthy tone of the rusted steel elements of the design. The restaurant has enjoyed great success and has become a pivotal component of the revitalization of downtown.

location
Tucson, Arizona

client/owner
Ted Parks, Joe Casertano, + Jeffry Glomski

contractor
Repp Construction, Inc.

area
3,500 sf main house
350 sf exterior

completion date
2002