36 DIGS.NET
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3.6.2020
P R O F I L E | W H E N C O LO R C A M E I N T O P L AY
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PHOTOGRAPHS
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COURTESY
OF
//3877
MI VIDA
Boutique design firm //3877 brings fresh
flavor to Washington DC with an exuberantly
designed, palate to palette eatery.
I
t's a fever-dream of a place where pops of pink
and shimmering rose-gold metals give luster to
neutral tones and tile. Located in a trendy sector
of Washington DC, with a prime perch in view of the
Washington Channel, the 9,766-square-foot Mi Vida
is modern Mexican to the core, both the menu and
the vibe. It's a spicy and eye-catching environment,
thanks to the hacienda-style design featuring
contemporary architectural details and materials.
That the concept is cohesive rather than chaotic
is a credit to collaborators, design studio //3877
and KNEAD Hospitality + Design. The partnership
infused Mi Vida with an effervescent Mexican spirit
and au courant character via custom elements
(bright pink fins designed via parametric software,
hand-carved concrete panels, metal screens and
railings) and traditionally atmospheric touches
(fire pits, a low-lit bar, floor-to-ceiling windows).
Everywhere are moments of surprise and delight:
the Árbol de La Vida, or "Tree of Life," anchoring the
central dining room, a series of hand-painted, wall-
mounted butterflies leading the way to bespoke
Mi Vida
is modern
Mexican to
the core, both
the menu
and the vibe.
booths and banquettes, a painting of a traditionally
costumed dancer, and a room that draws drama
from glittering chandeliers and succulent-patterned
wallcoverings. These components and others, like
arched openings and an al fresco dining space,
transport one to the smaller enclaves of colonial
Mexico, while the cutting-edge steel staircase of
floating wood treads and a glass handrail reflects
the country's contemporary side.
It is this balance—between aesthetic taste and
architectural restraint, Old and New World design—
that makes Mi Vida a feast for the eyes. 3877.design
THROUGHOUT
WATERFRONT
RESTAURANT MI
VIDA, SHADES OF
PINK HIGHLIGHT
THE VENUE'S MIX
OF MATERIALS
AND AUTHENTIC
MEXICAN
CHARACTER.
