Mariam Issoufou Architects designs zero-waste Gourmega restaurant in Manhattan's historic South Village
Mariam Issoufou Architects have completed Gourmega, a zero-waste restaurant in Manhattan's South Village Historic District. This 670-square-foot space boasts a dark design that pays homage to the area’s 18th-century roots known as the "Land of the Blacks." A standout feature is a communal table that can split into seven smaller ones, allowing the venue to function as a cafe by day and a supper club by night. The architects collaborated with Rethink Food to create an integrated soup kitchen. Local African American artists’ work adorns the walls, including 14 bronze panels by Nifemi Marcus-Bello. The project is led by Jon Gray, co-founder of Ghetto Gastro, with photography contributed by Seth Caplan.
Key facts
- Gourmega is a zero-waste restaurant designed by Mariam Issoufou Architects
- Located in Manhattan's South Village Historic District in a 19th-century building
- 670-square-foot space with dark-toned interior featuring black lime-washed walls
- Design references site's history as "Land of the Blacks" with African-owned farms in 1700s
- Custom communal table splits into seven smaller tables for cafe/supper club conversion
- Collaboration with Rethink Food supports soup kitchen providing free meals across New York
- Walls feature 14 bronze panels by Nigerian designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello
- All materials sourced within the US, fabricated by contractor TW2M
Entities
Artists
- Mariam Issoufou
- Nifemi Marcus-Bello
- Jon Gray
- Seth Caplan
Institutions
- Mariam Issoufou Architects
- Rethink Food
- Ghetto Gastro
- TW2M
- Dezeen
Locations
- Manhattan
- New York
- United States
- South Village Historic District
- Greenwich Village
- Soho
- Washington Square Park
- Niger
Sources
- Dezeen —