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Architects: Chioco Design
- Area: 278 m²
- Year: 2016
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Photographs:Patrick Y. Wong
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Manufacturers: Villa Lagoon
Text description provided by the architects. After several years of testing and establishing a design language embodying the Torchy’s Tacos brand, mainly through the design and construction of interior finish- outs and second generation remodels, Chioco Design was commissioned to create their new flagship location. The ground-up building, located along Austin’s iconic South Congress Ave., is situated on the site formerly occupied by Fran’s Hamburgers, an Austin based restaurant established in the 1970’s that symbolized a nostalgia for the archetypal Texas drive-in diner. Chioco Design set out to create a building able to respect itÊs iconic setting, allude to it's historic roots and fulfill the needs of a modern restaurant.
Consciously referencing the archetypal 50’s-era drive-in diners, Chioco Design developed an iconographic structural X& Yform traversing the length of the block facing South Congress Ave. These bright red columns support a crenellated roof profile extruded through the entire building, seamlessly connecting inside to out, and allowing for the addition of numerous north-facing skylights which provide an abundance of consistent natural light. Steel planters and tree wells extend out to the sidewalk and street to act as an inviting and accessible area adjacent to the vibrant energy of South Congress Ave.
Drawing from a carefully developed and dynamic material palette from previous Torchy’s locations Chioco Design implemented the now-symbolic red road reflectors across the western facade emphasizing the eclectic character of the neighborhood. Encaustic cement tiles are thoughtfully used around the interior and exterior, even materializing as a flooring surface to distinguish the entrance and queuing area. Brightly colored custom fabricated light fixtures hover above both bar areas serving as a significant contrast to the white ceilings during the day and brilliantly illuminating the space at night. Half-height board-formed concrete walls, a staple of the Torchy’s brand, serve to direct traffic and act as a complement to the warm wood tones found around the space.
