US firm Tres Birds Workshop has topped a Japanese restaurant in Denver, Colorado with a greenhouse featuring soil-free growing towers.
The building is located within a block-long, mixed-use development called S*Park, short for Sustainability Park.
Local studio Tres Birds Workshop designed the entire development ? which encompasses housing, commercial space and urban farming ? near the downtown area of the Colorodo city.

For one corner of the site, the team created a two-story building to house a street-level restaurant and an upper-level greenhouse.
Rectangular in plan, the building consists of a relatively solid base made of brick and concrete. Up above, a fully glazed volume is topped with a multi-gable roof, giving the building a distinctive look.
The ground level was designed for Uchi, an award-winning restaurant that serves up a range of Japanese fare, from wagyu beef and oak-grilled fish to sushi and sashimi. Its first location opened in 2003 in Austin, Texas.

"Uchi creates food with fresh ingredients in ways that defy expectations," said the architects. "The design intent was to support this mission through the programme of the building and the sensory experience of the space."

On the exterior, the restaurant is announced via a large, backlit sign. Visitors step into an L-shaped dining area that is organised around a central sushi counter and bar. The dining area features two rooms with different atmospheres ? one is light and warm, while the ...