BIG ROOF
Restaurant Renovation + Addition
Jefferson Chalmers, Detroit
Client: Coriander Kitchen & Farm
Size:
800 SF
Nicknamed after its most prominent feature, Big Roof is a supersized, sun-filled garden pergola that hosts dining and events for a farm-to-table restaurant on Detroit’s east side.
Inspired by Coriander Kitchen & Farm's philosophy to connect folks with the origin of the food they eat, Big Roof extends the dining experience into its canalside site–in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Through grounding the project in its environment, Big Roof creates a multi-seasonal, sensorial experience that reconnects people to the planet. During the winter, the structure is a lantern, illuminating the surrounding landscape. In the spring, the plastic facade is removed and dining activities spill out to the canalside where the bees + butterflies are welcomed beneath the structure.
An oversized, industrial gutter captures water for a rain garden, growing flowers that can be used to decorate restaurant tables. In this way, Big Roof mirrors the dialogic relationship of the farm to table practice. It both provides for and receives from its environment while creating a space for community, conversation and growth. The project blurs the boundary between interior and exterior — between landscape and architecture — allowing a dining experience that feels true to its mission of uniting people and agriculture.