-By Katie Weeks, Photography by Kirsten Force

Once peppered with decaying industrial warehouses, the Pearl District in downtown Portland, Ore., is emerging as a chic urban hot spot. According to local lore, the neighborhood received its name because in the past, rough and weather-worn warehouses sheltered artist galleries and lofts, much like pearls are protected by their hard shells. In recent years, however, many of the old warehouses have given way to new condominiums and lofts alongside burgeoning retail outlets and cafes, so what better place to house the fifth outpost of San Diego-based chef Isabel Cruz?

Tucked among the dense urban shell of new high-rise developments, Isabel sits like a 1,845-sq.-ft. modern gem. Designed by Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, the one-story restaurant originated as companion to the 180-unit Elizabeth Condominiums tower. However, even though the restaurant and the tower are owned by the same developer, their designs are decidedly different.

"The developer, John Carroll, wanted people walking down the street never to know that the same architect did both buildings," recalls Gunner Langhus, the project manager. So, while the condominium tower has more classic, Art Nouveau detailing, Isabel's structure is sleek and entirely modern. "Our take on the restaurant was to do something off the beaten path that no one had done," he adds.

Working with material like concrete, glass, and steel that acknowledge the neighborhood's industrial past, Ankrom Moisan took its mandate to heart both inside and out. Isabel's poured-in-place concrete shell rises to a hydrophobic roof made of waterproof concrete that at the time of construction rarely had been used in the Northwest. Acknowledging the relationship to the tower, which looms overhead, the architects hid the rooftop mechanicals within the structure so looking down on the restaurant, all that is seen from above is smooth concrete.

Back on the ground, the façade is comprised of floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the line between interior and exterior and help make the space feel bigger than it is. On the south elevation, which borders a public plaza, the windows are comprised of three custom-designed pivoting glass doors that swing out to provide additional outdoor seating in nicer weather and further enforce a connection between the restaurant's interior and the community beyond its walls. Staying true to their modern intentions, the designers decided against using more traditional sectional garage doors, which would require a mechanical operating system and tracks, for a less-intrusive hand-operated system.

In crafting the interiors, the team created a sequence of visual frames that progress from the plaza into the kitchen as Isabel's owner, Billy Tosheff, sought to emphasize two elements: the people and Chef Cruz's Latin-Asian cuisine. With each new restaurant, Tosheff explains, he and Cruz (who is also his wife) seek to create a space that is unique to its locale. "Because there is such visibility here, I looked at it as a jewel box to showcase both people inside and the food," he says. "The framing creates a series of visual impressions that lead from the outside to the dining room and bar to the kitchen and the food," he explains.

Tosheff also sought a warm interior palette that would balance the industrial—and potentially cold—exterior. "The building itself is so simple and stark that we wanted something that was warm but not cluttered. We wanted people to feel comfortable, not cold or isolated," he says. As a result, the interiors comprise an earthy palette—salvaged timber from the old warehouses, organic mahogany, olive-toned carpet, a cork ceiling, and recycled glass tile—that complements the surrounding concrete and glass. Another device subtly employed to make patrons feel more at home is that the structure is designed along the Golden Ratio or Golden Section proportions, which date back to the Parthenon and Greek architecture. "There are certain things you're comfortable with in terms of size and proportions, and using the Golden Section proportions helps make it feel like a great spot. You don't really know why, but it just feels right," notes Langhus.

Incorporating sustainable elements was also a focus for both designer and client. Isabel's heating and cooling systems, including radiant heat in the concrete floors, are connected with the Elizabeth's to maximize efficiency. Designing the adjacent public plaza, Ankrom Moisan planted trees to provide shade and help control heat gain during the sunny summer months, but allow sunlight to flood in when they lose their leaves during the fall and winter seasons. In addition, a computer-controlled lighting system minimizes energy use by automatically adjusting interior lighting based on the amount of natural light permeating the abundant windows.

Just as Cruz's dishes meld Latin, Cuban, Mexican, Japanese, and Thai flavor, Isabel's sleek design and warm interiors combine for a final product that is just what the client ordered.