Masterchef
Year:
2024
Koning Willem 1 College:
1st Year
Project:
3
For the Masterchef project, I designed a high‑end Michelin‑level restaurant to replace Restaurant Noble in ’s‑Hertogenbosch, which had recently lost its star. I was assigned the architects Herzog & de Meuron as my main inspiration, so I studied their design language, signature materials, and architectural concepts. Elements from projects such as the VitraHaus and the Prada Aoyama building helped shape the final character of my restaurant design.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The goal was to design a high‑end restaurant that expresses Michelin‑level quality through architecture, atmosphere, and spatial organization. By researching Herzog & de Meuron and studying their design language, I created sketches, structural concepts, and a clear circulation layout that guides guests through the entrance, dining spaces, and service areas. This resulted in a design that feels innovative while still reflecting the architect’s signature style.
APPROACH & PROCESS
I started the project by researching Herzog & de Meuron’s architectural principles, focusing on their use of materials, layered volumes, and expressive façade concepts. Based on this analysis, I created architectural and structural sketches to explore different design directions. These initial ideas were refined into clearer construction sketches before developing the 3D model in SketchUp, which consisted only of the primary structural elements such as columns and beams. Finally, I completed the floorplans, façades, and technical drawings in AutoCAD, translating the concept into a fully coordinated design.
CHALLENGES
A major challenge was translating Herzog & de Meuron’s complex design language into a restaurant that was realistic, functional, and structurally feasible. Balancing creativity with technical accuracy required a lot of iteration between sketches, massing, and construction logic.
OUTCOME
The final result is a restaurant design that combines a high‑end architectural identity with a clearly developed structural concept. The project includes concept sketches, structural drawings, a basic structural SketchUp model, and AutoCAD floorplans and façades. The design presents a modern interpretation of Herzog & de Meuron’s style while meeting the functional and atmospheric requirements of a Michelin‑level restaurant.
REFLECTION
This project strengthened my ability to translate architectural inspiration into a functional and well‑coordinated design. It showed me how important it is to understand the reasoning behind an architect’s style before applying it. The mix of research, sketching, 3D modeling, and technical drawing improved my overall design workflow.
GALLERY
