Imperfecto is the brainchild of chef Enrique Limardo who partnered with Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger, to create a place to win the crowds, a place to fuse mediterranean and Latin American flavors. This designed space, situated in Washington DC, core philosophy is the constant seeking perfection as defined by Aristotle but never willing to achieve it.
Photographer and art director Yiorgos Kordakis lent his eye for this promising project that was designed by Greek-Swedish architecture studio OOAK. No wonder how Imperfecto is openly influenced by Mediterranean archetypes. Relying on the distinctive color palette of white and black, punctuated with hues of blue and featuring warm wooden and artisan terra-cotta accents, the 98-seat restaurant is divided into three parts: The Bar, The Chef’s Table and The Main Dining Room, each offering its own defined energy full of contrasts. A backdrop, inspired by the block volume aesthetic of a marble quarry, interconnects each space. This is actually a wall, articulated with multiple textures in various shades of white -both lean and rough, shiny and matte, reflecting the light in different ways- turning it into a piece of art, rich in significance and connotations. Elegant leather banquette silos line the back wall, with overhead domes and round tables creating a pod-like sensation. Above the main dining room, drop formed glass bulbs designed by Swedish Glass artist Simon Klenell offer warm lighting, simulating the comfort of the sun over the Aegean. Bespoke furniture, custom designed by OOAK Architects, paired with pieces by some of the world’s biggest designer brands, create the backbone of the restaurant’s DNA. As first impression matters most, a custom-made host desk of burl wood combined with handmade ceramic tile artwork by London/Athens based ceramic artist Melina Xenaki adorns the space. The designed bar area features overhead arches with bespoke light fixtures by Orbium light studio and a mural photograph of a Greek Quarry by the initiator of the project, Yiorgos Kordakis.
OOAK architects used Greek and Italian marbles as well as brass and wood from different parts of the world, creating contrasting textures across the space. This amalgamation of natural materials and bold shapes bring forth a holistic celebration of the undisputed identity of the place: A modern yet extraordinarily classic culinary experience whose im-perfection derives from the divine synthesis of seemingly completely incompatible elements, worlds and aesthetic identities.
