Auburn stands as an homage to both craftsmanship and natural materials. As if stepping into a friend’s home, the space is conceived as a warm, domestic shell with the fine-tuned operations of an internationally driven kitchen at its hearth. Pockets of light and ample native greenery intersect and connect interior and exterior spaces within the restaurant.

Designed around materials that will age well - solid white oak, thick limestone slab, vegetable-tanned leather - the space exudes a serene effortlessness, much like the chef’s plates of food. Auburn’s design concept focuses on beauty through simplicity. A simple palate of natural materials defines a warm, domestic space for Chef to showcase his progressive California cuisine. The building celebrates passion and craft though a seamlessly intertwined approach towards honesty in space, hospitality, and food.

A haptic band of materiality for the guest to indulge in forms the region between the floor and the ceiling. This is the area layered with tactile materials and finishes, from hand applied wall finishes and bespoke sconces to a custom collection of everything dining - from tables and chairs to linens and serving trays. Working closely with a small team of craftsmen, the designers designed and fabricated a bespoke range of furniture, lighting, hardware and serve-ware tailored specifically for Chef’s dining concept.

In the 105-seat space on 1,650sf of area, Chef and designers work to create a transportive diningmexperience that embraces and pays homage to Los Angeles' uninhibited culinary identity and local craftsmanship.

What were the key challenges?  
Remodeling three distinctly different building typologies to create a unified design concept and language as well as a seamless design from the indoors out.

Team:

Architecture & Design: ORA

Interior Design: Klein Agency

General Contractor: Howard CDM

Structural: Englekirk Partners

Civil: John Labib + Associates

Food Service KRB Specialists:

Mechanical: K&S Air Conditioning, Inc.

Electrical: SCG Electrical, Inc.

Plumbing: Major League Plumbing, Inc.

Photos © Nicole Franzen

Materials Used:

Finish: Vermont Plank Flooring Mad River Valley Finish

Facade cladding: White smooth trowel cement plaster

Custom White Oak doors and windows

Portola Roman Clay in courtyard

Flooring: White Oak Wide Plank Floor, Dinesen

Select Plain Sawn White Oak Plank Flooring in 12″ widths, finished with a hint of white, and an extra-matte-sheen water-based finish.

Ardex self-leveling concrete

Doors: Custom White Oak doors

Windows: Custom White Oak windows

Roofing: Douglas Fir Beams & Roof Structure

nsulated Cool Roof, Durafoam

Interior lighting: Pendant, Foscari

Wall Sconce, WO&WE

Custom Wall Sconces

Interior Millwork: White Oak

Limestone

Vegetable tanned leather

Blackened Steel

Interior furniture: All furniture custom designed by Klein Agency

Oiled Rubbed Brass