RYT
Royal/T Cafe and Gallery

Royal/T is a playful collision of art gallery, café, and retail environment within a restored warehouse in Culver City. Inspired by the maid cafés of Tokyo’s Akihabara district, the highly conceptualized space reflects the interior realm of fantasy which inspires the artists represented in the owner’s private art collection.

Key info
Design Architect
Executed by WHY Architecture Workshop Inc.
Location
Culver City, CA
Year
  • 2008
Size
  • 10,000 sq. ft.
Role
Design and Executive Architect
AT ONE REMOVE

Undulating ribbons of ten-foot acrylic walls showcase the art and retail offerings in tantalizing architectural vitrines. The vitrines allow for the juxtaposition of disparate programs; patrons dine in close proximity to the multi-million dollar art collection, seamlessly screened by hyper-clear cast acrylic. Even the café ceiling is acrylic, allowing the existing bowstring trusses to remain visible. Diners become voyeurs and participants in the architectural fusion of pop-culture and high-end design.

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