CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect

CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Beam, ChairCO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, TableCO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Wood, ChairCO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior PhotographyCO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - More Images+ 20

Bentonville, United States
More SpecsLess Specs
CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Chair, Beam
© Timothy Hursley

Text description provided by the architects. In 2018, Ropeswing Group selected Marlon Blackwell Architects (MBA) to create the interior of their new 2,000 square foot fast casual ramen restaurant at the 8th Street Market in Bentonville, Arkansas. The 8th street market is a creative, local economy reimagining of a disused food processing plant. The design for CO-OP Ramen evolved from the productive dissonance of the new and the old, the highly crafted and happenstance.

CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Wood, Chair
© Timothy Hursley
CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Image 24 of 25
Plan
CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Table
© Timothy Hursley

The space, constructed of simple and un-refined materials, prominently concrete masonry units and plywood, exudes a richness through the carefully composed textures of the space. The view of the restaurant from the exterior storefront windows is filtered through a continuous length of steel beaded curtain, which reflects and softens the light, and defers the full experience of the space until one enters. Embracing the Japanese notion of wabi sabi, which celebrates the asymmetries and imperfections in rough and natural objects, MBA created a “cave” containing booths from simple construction quality plywood, elevated by careful joinery and edge detailing, highlighted by concealed light fixtures.

CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography
© Timothy Hursley

Passing through the compressed articulated space of the Cave, the guest is released in to a spacious communal seating area, spatially connected by under a deeply coffered plywood ceiling. Light travels through the depth of the plywood, causing light and shadow to become caught up in the recesses and in-between. Surrounded by carefully laid concrete block walls softened by a 12 ft tall living green wall, guests can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, creating refined versions of simple food, itself a celebration of the same spirit of wabi-sabi.

CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Beam, Chair
© Timothy Hursley

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Bentonville, Arkansas, United States

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "CO-OP Ramen Restaurant / Marlon Blackwell Architect" 30 Jul 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/944146/co-op-ramen-restaurant-marlon-blackwell-architect> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.