Hinterhof

Project Description:
Hinterhof is a German restaurant, bar and beer garden in the Highland Park Neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The project goal was to capture the spirit of traditional German food establishments in a contemporary Southern California design culture and geographic climate. To heighten the social impact, the garden is placed adjacent the boulevard and the restaurant is situated to the rear. Planted with native species, the garden envelops visitors in the ongoing conversations upon entry. The interiors are designed to engage the lineage of the beer hall through the material selection and detailing. Tables, display cases, and lighting was designed and fabricated to complete the overall impression of the space.

Design Brief:
We were asked to design a ground up modern German restaurant, bar and beer garden in the Highland Park Neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, including the following elements:
75 seat interior dining hall and bar evoking traditional German social halls.
30 seat exterior beer garden poetically connected to the visual and spatial history of Berlin backyard spaces and gatherings.

Design Challenges:
The primary technical challenge, in addition to the City of Los Angeles’ standard zoning restrictions affecting restaurant/bar development, was the project is located within a high seismic zone requiring extensive geotechnical analysis and engineering solutions.
Aesthetically, the main challenge was to capture the spirit of historical German food establishments in a contemporary Southern Californian design culture and geographic climate.

Design Results:
To heighten the social impact, the garden is placed adjacent the boulevard and the restaurant is situated to the rear. Planted with native species, the garden envelops visitors in the ongoing conversations upon entry. The interiors are designed to engage the lineage of the beer hall through the material selection and detailing. Tables, display cases, and lighting was designed and fabricated to complete the overall impression of the space.