7 Bancas

Restaurant / Dining | Completed 2015 | Escazú, San José, Costa Rica

Set in a shopping district in the upscale neighborhood of Escazú, Costa Rica, 7 Bancas serves as a transition between a lush tropical garden and an adjacent bamboo forest and urban waterway.

A renovation of a colonial farmhouse, the space feels intimate and sheltered even as sun streams in through the open roof. White walls and a quiet color palette directs attention outside to the bright tropical greens of the courtyard garden, and also above to the rainwater harvesting system that floats above the open roof, featuring a colorful mural painted by a local artist. Natural texture comes to the forefront throughout, as the original Spanish tiles mix with *formaleta* wood reclaimed from formwork to direct your sense of procession and spatial refinement through the space.

Here, Taller KEN also turned their attention to the outdoor patio, designing custom exterior benches and a courtyard fountain outside the dining space to further facilitate a soft transition from exterior to interior. Embracing the natural setting, the sound of tropical birds and the bubbling fountain float in through the open roof, alongside the beaming sunlight and a fresh breeze.