Tawle Restaurant

Acting as a part of an independent extension to a hotel in Qatar, Tawle is a re-interpretation of local Lebanese eateries, accessed from both the hotel and the street.
The space has a longitudinal façade along a wide sidewalk. The intervention intends to blur the threshold between the inside and outside. Substituting the existing ‘vitrine’ windows with sliding partitions allowed the façade to open up to the street, creating a limitless open space between the restaurant and the sidewalk.
The project is divided into 2 main zones: the servant and served spaces. A red box, with steel partitions, reminiscent of Lebanese bakeries, is immersed in the fluid space embodying a large kitchen. The main seating area acts a hub for all the social activities that are typical of the Lebanese dining experience, to take place. Contrary to the conventional small table distribution, a 7m long concrete communal table sits boldly in the center of the space, occupying the whole seating area.  It becomes the meeting place of friends and strangers; a buzzing hub typical to the Mediterranean experience of people coming together over a meal. This is the branding name, the concept and the image of the eatery.
A unique identity was given to the eatery by using an abstraction of the authentic materials typical to traditional Lebanese interiors. Perforated steel mesh, with rattan pattern, define the ceiling. Red painted steel partitions accentuate the kitchen area. The floor is treated with broken Carrara marble. New modern materials were introduced to create a dialogue between the old and the new. Walls are treated with micro-topping finish, while the communal table constitutes of concrete and wire mesh. A variety of rattan-patterned wood furniture, benches and a swing are placed along the communal table, responding to the eatery’s identity of hosting various activities: eating, co-working, studying, and social community meetings.