Located on the ground floor of a typical late 19th century Haussmann building, Neri&Hu’s design concept celebrates the layers of material heritage that narrate the history of the city itself. During the dismantling phase, the site was treated carefully; by stripping back the strata of finishes that have built up through the decades, the beauty of the bare materials is revealed. Every single existing element was meticulously examined, and the challenge was in resisting the urge to fix every imperfection, to instead honor the imprint of time upon each surface. On the interior, portions of limestone and brick walls, a raw steel column, and a brick column are preserved and integrated into the design. On the façade, an existing steel I-beam lintel is featured, while a segment of old stone moulding by the entry is left exposed, stitching the façade seamlessly to that of the neighboring building. Each fragment represents a different period in Paris’ history, forming a beautiful yet challenging existing canvas for the architects to intervene.

Despite the compact 52 square meters of usable area, Neri&Hu’s proposal boldly inserts two figures into the space: an oblong volume forming an arena-like enclosure that integrates all the functional needs of seating, display, chef’s prep counter, privacy screen, as well as a round shape containing the wood-burning oven. Clad in handmade convex-curved white ceramic tiles, the enclosure features large openings framed with thick birch plywood that become seating benches for guests. Entering into the arena, floors are also adorned with narrow white ceramic tiles, and guests are instantly transformed from spectator to a performer on stage. The central communal table features a long custom pendant light above, while a series of lights by Viabizzuno create a stark modern contrast on the old limestone wall. Custom wood and fabric chairs, manufactured by De La Espada, were designed by Neri&hu specifically for Papi Restaurant to fit within the limited footprint.