Biwa Test Kitchen
Portland, Oregon | 2017
Biwa Test Kitchen was the newest iteration of the established Southeast Portland restaurant, Biwa. While located in the same building as the main restaurant, the Test Kitchen provided an intimate 600 square foot space imbued with the rich food culture of Japan.
The existing surfaces were layered with new materials and colors: a palette of light wood wall panels and a wrap-around bar height banquette, dark steel details, and zinc tables and counters. The guest area was defined by two seating heights, and several ceiling levels that transition from the entry into the main space. A The lower seats at the chef's counter allowed for viewing, and service of hot and cold items directly from the compact stainless-steel kitchen.
The all-electric kitchen was partially screened by a hanging custom steel framework that provided for display, selected storage and ambient light diffusion. The lighting scheme included wall and ceiling mounted LED fixtures.