Umi Bento
Manzanita, Oregon • 2025
Small projects often bring us the most enjoyment. At Umi Bento, we collaborated with an emerging small business to convert a downtown space into a takeout restaurant. This 500 square foot gem embraces the reclaimed nature of the space, exposing the original concrete floor and rough sawn roof joists. The newly constructed elements pull in the simple elegance of eastern proportions and materiality. Kitchen and service spaces are laid out with compact efficiency, while maximizing visual access to the food preparation process. On pleasant weather days, the glazed storefront can be opened, allowing diners to move freely between the restaurant and the streetside garden outside.
