KANN

2023 IIDA Will Ching Design Competition “Winner”

“Inside Kann The James Beard Best New Restaurant Winner” Metropolis Magazine, June 2023

“Design Stays True To Itself In This Pacific Northwest City” Gray Magazine, June 2023

“Restaurants, Clinics, Bridges - And Awards” Portland Tribune, June 2023

Kann, a richly textured space with an emphasis on natural materials that is at once modern and timeless. The design team created a warm canvas for the food to be featured and highlighted with its’ beautiful colors and textures as well as everyone sitting at a table. Entering the restaurant, one is welcomed by the warm glow of a custom recessed cove ceiling that is made up of a gold brushed metal. The gold metal appears again at the heart of the restaurant with a custom shroud wrapping the grill and hearth. The team has provided carefully selected pendant lights that provide a minimal twist on the traditional Haitian baskets worn to transport food from the markets. These suspended gold baskets provide additional warmth featured over the family style table and bar areas. The kitchen becomes the heart of the space typically experienced in a residential setting giving you a sense of focus, warmth, and familiarity. The material palette consists of natural white oak, luxe gold accents, natural quartzite stone slabs at the chef’s counter and bar with beautiful blue and pink veining that give a nod to the Caribbean. As natural light filters through the historical storefront and windows it highlights the warm canvas of rich textures, of the carefully selected natural materials creating a space that feels light, warm, and welcoming.

Location // Portland, Oregon

Scope // Architecture, Interiors

Completed // 2022

Collaborators // Arium Botanicals

Photographer // Shelsi Lindquist Photography