Estudio Soroche’s Project in Moray, Peru Highlights the Region’s Biodiversity Through Design.

Estudio Soroche has unveiled a redesign of the workspace and showroom of Mater’s research centre in Mil restaurant, located right above the Inca ruins of Moray, Peru. This space forms a key part of the gastronomic project led by Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez of Central, a renowned restaurant in Lima.

The new space is entirely made by local masters and artisans using local resources and techniques, demonstrating the Cusco region’s capability in the world of design.

Taking the language of the original architecture as a starting point, Estudio Soroche stripped the space down to its purest expression before creating new, more appropriate, and flexible operational flows. The 90-square-meter interior was reconfigured to maximize functionality and spatial fluidity.

Key materials include three different types of wood from the Cusco region: aguano, copaiba, and walnut, each with a different appearance and personality.

Alongside wood, the regional andesite stone also makes an appearance. Sourced from surrounding quarries, it is cut with a split-face finish to preserve its natural, robust appearance. Andesite slabs form a two-meter centre table for the showroom area and two big table legs for the ‘Mater table’, a piece that exhibits the Cusco region’s biodiversity of ingredients.

Part of the proposal was to integrate Mater’s work with the local community of artisans, whose work can be seen on a shelf display of corn husks and wool fibre woven by craftswomen.

All the furniture and light pieces were custom-made for the space, appearing minimalist and utilitarian in form so as not to fight with the timers and stone acting as protagonists. The colour palette, textures and finishes seek to reflect the rawness and robustness of the surrounding landscape and the architecture itself.

Estudio Soroche was founded in 2021 by Irish-Catalan Claire Kelly and Barcelona-born Francesc del Moral, who decided to settle in Cusco after a long trip, focusing on developing projects with local artisans. Claire worked in different interior design studios in Barcelona, on housing, retail and ephemeral projects, while Francesc developed his experience in the industrial sector via product design, later specializing in food design.

[Images courtesy of Estudio Soroche. Photography by Noma.]