When we think of salt, we think of it as a way to season our food. But for the Iranian Emtiaz Designing Group, salt was the main material for a new kind of eco-friendly building, the Salt Restaurant of Shiraz in southern Iran, where the walls, tables and even the stairs were covered with a salty coating. Best of all, this layer of salt helps to clean the polluted air of the city, while also giving this eatery a distinctive identity.
Inspired by local and naturally occurring salt caves of the region, Emtiaz wanted to create a design that reflected the area's distinctive salt mines and Marharloo salt lake of Shiraz. They explain:
In this particular case, the walls, structural sculptures and ceilings are made from salt sourced from the nearby salt mines and salt lake of Shiraz which was mixed with natural gum to harden it.
Salt is a natural disinfectant and the ions it releases also purify and filter the air, making it the perfect material for a restaurant.
© Emtiaz Designing Group
We assume that the natural gums protect the salt from being washed away by rain. Salt powder and rock were used to make most of the surfaces, which curve and sweep, to mimic the real thing. To up the eco-friendly factor, recycled soda cans were used to fashion quirky chairs and the stair treads going up to the second floor.
© Emtiaz Designing Group
© Emtiaz Designing Group
© Emtiaz Designing Group
Historically, we know salt was valuable, having even been once used as currency (hence the phrase "worth one's salt"). But in addition to promoting their unique idea of green building, using locally relevant materials, the architects are also trying to revive the ancient idea that salt has healing powers:
Salt suffers a bad reputation in gastronomy thanks to its overuse in most diets, meaning that most people are not aware of its astonishing healing powers. But in fact salt has been known as a powerful health remedy since ancient times, especially for respiratory health and detoxification. In many ways, these two functions are the foundation of overall health. Even Hippocrates prescribed salt water inhalation therapy for bronchial and lung disorders.
© Emtiaz Designing Group
© Emtiaz Designing Group
Flowing organically in form and clever in its use of materials, Shiraz's salt restaurant is an surprising interpretation of what modern green building might look like; more over at Emtiaz Designing Group.
An Entire Restaurant made of Salt
In the Iranian city of Shiraz is a unique restaurant, built entirely of salt. Walls, tables, chairs and even the stairs are made of this white mineral. Visitors appreciated not only by the creativity institutions, but also the benefits that it brings health.
Unique restaurant area of 150 square meters is the brainchild of Iranian firms Emtiaz Designing Group . Architects have used salt as a base material under the support of the program “green” building in the city. It is known that salt purifies the air and fills it with positive ions.
Get a number of unusual material for the construction of no big deal, as far from the town are the salt mines and the salt lake. Inspired by the natural sea caves, the designers wanted to give his restaurant a similar form.
Development of the project began with research layers and types of salt mines. Then extracted whole rock salt and processed accordingly. As an added bonding material builders white mineral resin.
Replies
Hmm wonder if they have deer there deer love salt licks lol
If deers love salt licks and if they were there the whole salt restaurant would be licked off.
Can you imagine it two people sitting down having a nice meal you look over none other than bambi standing next to you licking a hole in the wall lol love it....
Nice krish i used to have a hemilayin pink salt rock lamp i would light it at nights it drew out impurities in the air i breathed better slept better felt more rested more energetic until my grandbaby broke it i really do need a new one lol so yes in these uses very good for you.... i also have dead sea salt scrubs imuse in the shower keeps skin soft supple draws out impurities less breakouts keeps skin looking young so again a good use.... great article thank you...
What about having a restaurant made entirely of Himalayan Pink Salt ...call it THE PINK RESTAURANT.
By the way Pink Himalayan Salt is very good for you and I recently got some from Wholefoods in London and use it daily
What if we had a restaurant made entirely of SUGAR and called THE SWEET RESTAURANT
Hope the menu is not too salty ...nevertheless coming back to the salt restaurant it states salt purifies the air and fills it with positive ions.
Better still if he used table crystal salt light shades