Spontaneity and Reversibility in Brutal Burrito's Design

Design Philosophy

The project of the Brutal Burrito restaurant treats the space as a body to be dressed, thus establishing a distinction between naked and clothed parts. The pre-existing space remains undressed, taking on a raw aesthetic based on rough plastered surfaces and floors that recall the materiality of the surrounding sidewalks. A fabric system instead distributes the dining areas. It is a pattern, the one conceived by BURR Studio, that allows the space to be dressed up for special occasions, to be dressed down for a celebration, or to be dressed up for business attire as needed. A pattern indeed, rather than a closed design

Classical Influences and Modern Flexibility

To create contrast with this flexible and light model, the design leans on rather classical influences, using shapes that recall arches to delimit interior spaces-a sort of tradition made of plastic. The demountable, almost disposable condition gives the space a certain spontaneity; the feeling of being a place that does not really belong to reality. In line with this idea, the design of the arcades intentionally does not correspond to the masonry facade and its large ones facing the street, so that it is understood as a series of layers that do not fit together

Functionality in Aesthetics

Instead, the kitchen elements take a fixed position. They adopt a functional and technical aesthetic, using stainless steel as a hygienic surface on which to prepare or serve food. The ceiling of this area extends out from the kitchen, encroaching on the rest of the space with metallic reflections, blurring the difference between the two sides of the bar counter

The Heart of the Kitchen

Of all the elements in the kitchen, two stand out above the rest. The first is the comal, an adaptation of the traditional pre-Columbian cookware used mainly in Mexico. It takes a central position, both physically and symbolically, representing all the cooking operations developed by Brutal Burrito. The second element is the tortilladora, a specially developed appliance for making tortillas that is rarely found outside Latin America. The custom-designed furniture for Brutal Burrito is based on the aluminum tube bending technique, which is essentially used to produce outdoor furniture for small bars and restaurants in Spain