For the first mountain location of the rapidly growing RAKKAN Ramen franchise, keernsmith transformed the generic interior shell of the Soaring Ranch shopping center into an intimate and flexible restaurant whose layout and material texture connect back to the franchise’s humble beginnings. A simple post and beam structure, born of the dimensional requirements common to both cooking and eating, creates a functional boundary between the open kitchen and dining room that allows for two different dining experiences - bar seating and cozy two-person booths. A stained plywood bench hugs the main dining area providing flexibility for party sizes ranging from 1-14 while acoustic walnut paneling manages noise levels and radiates natural warmth.