el saque

El Saque is a family-friendly space for playing table tennis (ping-pong), as well as offering cocktails and light meals.

Executed on a very limited budget, the design creates spatial variety through ceilings of varying heights. Lower ceilings mark service and circulation areas, while higher ceilings define the lounge and play zones. The tallest space is flanked by a small bleacher, allowing it to function for tournaments, gatherings, or projections.

The venue occupies the ground floor of a 1950s building by German architect Henry Klumb, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, located on Avenida Ponce de León in Santurce. Some of the double-height areas were inspired from institutional projects by Klumb, such as the Lázaro Library at the University of Puerto Rico. Other Wrightian concepts were reinterpreted like compressing the entry space in plan and section, enhancing the sense of interior spaciousness.

During construction, an original hydraulic floor tile beneath the preexisting floor finish—though in poor condition—was uncovered, restored, and integrated into the design.

Key materials include pine wood, concrete, and gypsum board. Dark paints were applied to accentuate depth in double-height areas, while lower ceilings and some walls retained the light tones of the restored floor. Furniture was selected for its utilitarian character and neutral pastel colors, complementing the spatial sequence.