Ora is a Japanese Tapas restaurant in the heart of Kuwait City, Kuwait.The project was initiated with the vision of a local client interested in creating a Japanese Tapas concept in the Middle East.Merging two very different culinary concepts and experiences – Japanese and Kuwaiti heritage - required a spatial manifestiation that is able to understand and enhance the essence of each without diminishing their integrity.

In addressing the local public dining culture, T.ZED Architects wanted to identifya synergy with the traditional Japanese spaces. Semi-transparent screens, that partition spaces while maintaining visual connection, play a key role in providing a sense of “public privacy.” Communal tables aim to heighten diners’ awareness of their immediate physical surrounds in a bid to bring forth more presence and attention towards the shared space, the food and the experience in general. A minimalist décor and an understated monochromatic theme allowed the restaurant’s aesthethic to create and bring a refreshing dining experience.