project team
humankind hospitality
foraker company
frida southwest
modus construction
obelisk engineering
bell & mccoy

awards
2019 | ULI Impact Best Boutique Development

press
2019 | 405magazine Frida Restaurant Planned for Paseo
2019 | journal record Frida Finally Gets Green Light in Paseo
2019 | okctalk Gorgeous FRIDA Nears Completion
2021 | edible okc Intentional Creativity

Named and inspired by the iconoclastic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Frida Southwest is a 5,000 sf restaurant featuring sunlit dining spaces connected to sheltered outdoor patios, integrated with a separate craft-cocktail bar and patio, known as The Daley. The design reverberates Frida’s life, whose work depicts her dreams and her pain within the context of Mexican culture and traditions. As a gateway to the Paseo District, Frida’s ubiety activates the corner, addressing the curvilinear street with complementary arcade walls, organically transitioning from Paseo to Walker Avenue.

The facade harmonizes with the historic Spanish-style district, incorporating major elements of the Spanish Revival style by way of the featured stucco arcade creating the entry and outdoor dining spaces. Patinaed weathering steel walls and trellis balance the open arcade, highlighting the earthy and bright orange/brown rust undertones. Large clear windows illuminate the space with blue-colored glass, limited to artistic accents within the bar areas. Wood details provide warmth to the dining spaces with aesthetic accent tiles enhancing the energy within the space.

 photo
© joseph mills