Behind every design there is a story or point of inspiration. This issue of Contemporary Stone & Tile Design features four projects with varying styles and purposes, yet in each case, the final result is a wonderful display of stone and tile. And while the approach to each design might be different, each architect and designer found a source for inspiration that led them to express their vision and satisfy their client’s design requirements.
Three of the four projects are restaurants in our Hospitality Design focus, and each one is very different from another — from their location to style and clientele. Coba Cocina in Lexington, KY, (page 12) was conceived as a prototype for a chain of restaurants. It is a 400-seat restaurant, bar and confectionary — all in one. Architect Todd Ott, AIA, of CMW Inc. dedicated time to researching Mesoamerican culture to serve as the inspiration for the building’s architecture. The design concept evolved to telling the story of the rich Mayan culture of the Yucatan Peninsula “in both its sacred architecture as well as the naturally forming cenote,” explained Ott. To achieve the design goal, the architect incorporated a large amount of tile and stone — in varying colors, sizes and textures — into Coba Cocina’s exterior and interior design.