Flora
Houston, Texas
From high-quality ingredients to handmade tortillas, from lush plant life to the patio and lively music, Flora’s fresh approach to Mexican makes this Houston restaurant and bar the perfect viaje pequeño right in town. Driven by the owner’s vision for the architecture, interiors, and brand to cohere with the chef’s food and flavors, the words “fresh, with heart, and transporting” guided every design decision.
Influenced by Mexico’s culture of craft and making, materials requiring a skilled hand converge throughout. A lime-washed terra cotta breeze block on the building’s exterior filters out direct sunlight while admitting dappled light into the dining room. At sunset, the building glows through the blocks like a lantern. At street level, lush plants guide guests toward the entry. Inside, a double-height dining room ceiling articulated with exposed glulam beams supports a spacious light monitor above. The beams extend to the patio through a double-height curtain wall inviting fluidity between indoor and outdoor experiences.
Inside, neutral, earthy tones and organic textures are punctuated by olive green suede upholstered banquettes, cognac leather stools, and locally-made terra cotta tile floors. At the chef’s table, a concrete-poured countertop sits over stacked end-grain wood. In the kitchen, custom blackened steel shelving with oak shelves holds serveware, herbs, and spices.
