Roble Cafe and Restaurant

My mind is naturally very playful, and many of my ideas begin with simple moments of curiosity. One day, while walking through an IKEA store in Dubai, I noticed a collection of stainless-steel bowls. I picked up two of them and placed one on top of the other, and suddenly a beautiful spherical form appeared. I was simply playing with the objects when they reminded me of the soap bubbles we used to make as children.At that time, I was working on the design of Roble Cafe and Restaurant. The image of those floating bubbles stayed with me, and I began imagining them suspended in the air instead of disappearing after a few seconds. I wanted to arrange them in a rhythmic composition that would visually interact with the curved sofa seating below, almost like a cloud of bubbles frozen in time.That playful moment became the starting point for the Roble lighting installation. What began as an ordinary encounter with everyday objects evolved into one of the defining design elements of the project, transforming a childhood memory into an immersive architectural experience.

Because of Roble's location on the foothills of the Alborz Mountains, at one of the highest points in Tehran, the rooftop of the Galleria Shopping Center offered an exceptional panoramic view of the city. However, the protective parapet surrounding the rooftop blocked this view whenever guests were seated.To solve this challenge, we designed an elevated deck along the edge of the terrace, allowing the first row of seating to enjoy an uninterrupted view over the parapet. We then introduced two additional stepped levels for the central seating area. This prevented the guests in the front row from obstructing the view of those seated farther back.As a result, every guest could enjoy the remarkable panorama of Tehran. This architectural decision not only maximized the visual connection with the landscape but also became a defining element of the interior experience, ensuring that the city's breathtaking skyline remained an integral part of every visitor's experience.

I believe some design principles are universal. Certain proportions, materials, textures and colors create positive emotional responses across different cultures. At the same time, every culture has its own identity and subtle preferences that deserve respect.My goal with Roble was not to simply combine American and Iranian aesthetics, but to find a common language between them. I carefully selected forms, colors, furniture and fabrics that would feel familiar to Iranian guests while also feeling comfortable and authentic to someone from the United States or any other part of the world.Rather than emphasizing cultural differences, I focused on shared human experiences. I wanted an Iranian guest to feel a sense of belonging, while an American guest would never feel like a stranger. Finding that balance between local identity and universal appeal became one of the most rewarding aspects of the design process.