The design of the this “pick and go” shawarma place responds to two main factors; the location and scale of the shop on a prominent corner on Salem Al Mubarak Street in Salmiya Kuwait and to the ethos embodies by Mr. Shakir, the mascot shop owner of this shawarma joint.

In response to the location, the intention was to create a bold presence on this main road. A larger-than-life store signage that takes over the overall building façade and signals the arrival of the fast-growing brand to this important location becomes one of the main design driving forces.

The detailing of shop interiors and the selection of materials and the integration of the lighting design developed by working closely with the brand ethos of the authenticity of the story of Mr. Shakir and his origination as a shawarma master and the DIY type of approach he and other shawarma shop owners became known for. Simplistic off the shelf materials such as metal mesh and subway tiles become the main materials of the covering the exterior (signage) and interior walls respectively. Accents of color in line with the brand and details of related to lighting strategies and interior material choices were further selected with the main question in mind “what would Mr. Shakir select or do?”

Arched rough popcorn ceilings extend from the inside of the shop to the tip of the canopy signage outdoors linking both elements together in one single movement. The rhythmic playful arches juxtapose the sharped edged materials used all throughout and gives an ohmage to the origination of the shawarma as one of the most notorious and fastly spreading Middle eastern delicacies.