Header: Francisco Nogueira
When XXXI.studio set out to create BAZ, they didn’t just want to build another restaurant in Lisbon. They wanted to strip away the layers that usually hide the work of a kitchen. The journey starts right at the street, where a sharp, minimalist stainless steel box is cut into the facade. This portal marks the transition from the busy city into a space where wood and steel do all the talking. By using raw materials at the threshold, the architects set a clear tone: there is nothing to hide here.
The 15-metre counter that steals the show
The heart of the 141-square-metre space is a massive, 15-metre-long counter, which is the main character of the room. The architects chose an organic shape that stretches the entire length of the ground floor, splitting the restaurant exactly in half. On one side, you have the bar and the heat of the kitchen; on the other, the guests. This 50/50 split ensures that the energy of the cooking process is felt by everyone in the room.
Carlos Aragão, co-founder of XXXI.studio, explains that “these two realities of service and guest live together at the same time, fully visible to each other.” This setup turns the act of preparing a meal into a live performance, removing the walls that typically keep chefs out of sight.
Crafted through fire and wood
The texture of the central counter is the result of a rough, hands-on process. Inspired by the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique, the wood was sculpted, burnt, brushed, washed, and varnished. The architects describe the finished piece as being “full of accidents,” an organic texture that feels alive. This dark, textured object acts as an anchor for the rest of the room. Against a calm and simple background, the counter stands out as the soul of the restaurant, grounded by the craftsmanship of the people who built it.
Honest materials and open design
XXXI.studio managed the building process as well, working directly with carpenters and makers to solve problems on the fly. This hands-on approach allowed them to keep the materials honest. There are no fake finishes or hidden corners here. By letting the stainless steel and burnt wood speak for themselves, the studio has created a space that feels real and transparent.
XXXI.studio has moved away from typical restaurant trends by focusing on a single, powerful piece of furniture and a layout that forces interaction between the kitchen and the table. The result is a space in Lisbon that feels as much like a workshop as it does a dining room, proving that the best designs are often the ones that show their work.
