Located in a former warehouse in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, Sōko is a teppanyaki restaurant that blends Japanese influence with its industrial site. The design of the restaurant by CAAM Arquitectos unites a sense of tranquility with the warehouse’s preexisting materials. Enclosed by brick and topped with an arched roof, the space takes advantage of Mexico’s warm weather with an open-roof dining area and entry, tied together with sculptural use of form and geometry.

The restaurant begins with an open garden which also houses the lobby and first dining area. A circular reflecting pool and abundance of trees offer a tranquil respite. Brick walls separate the street and outside visibility to nurture the serene feeling.

A suspended planter runs through the garden and into the interior. The structure, supported on concrete, trapezoidal structures, anchors Sōko. It’s both functional (it provides ventilation for the cooking stations and establishes zones in the area) and decorative (the sculptural forms draw connections between the indoor and outdoor areas and create opportunities to hang more greenery). It also helps organize the space, as the planter, supported by brackets, creates zones for private and intimate dining areas.

Past the planter, the barrel-vaulted room continues the sculptural nature of the design. It’s given a calm feeling by wood furnishings and ambient lighting that lean toward minimalism. The pared-back trappings are right at home among the Japanese flavors while warming up the industrial qualities of the warehouse.