IT
Located near the Pantheon, a place of great historical and monumental interest, inside a building of ancient Rome, the restaurant is the undisputed witness of the food and wine tradition of the city. The aim of the project was to create an enveloping and intimate space by recovering some of the architectural elements of ancient Rome: arches and apsidal structures characterize the score of the main façade visible from the outside also thanks to the use of very large glass surfaces. Exploiting the height of the room and the creation of a pavilion vault on the roof combined with the insertion of trompe l’oeil frescoes made it possible to expand the internal space, modifying its visual perception. The choice of a type of diffused and punctual lighting at the same time has given a complementary contribution to the spatial expansion: the effect is that of a homogeneous environment, where the light sources are not visible, net of the use of lighting fixtures- sculptures that characterize the usable areas. Add to this the use of mirrors that increase light reflection. The resulting atmosphere is warm and enveloping. Inside the restaurant, four areas can be distinguished: the main area, characterized by tables and upholstered seats, the sofa area dedicated to tastings, and two more private areas: the first, inside a semi-cylindrical apse structure which can accommodate up to eight people, the second adjacent to the entrance, characterized by a rocking seat, also intended for tastings. The score of the main façade with its sequence of arches and vaults, in fact constitutes a filter for the service area behind, within which the kitchen and bathrooms have been located. The choice of finishes such as the lime paint and the wooden boiserie responds to the need to maintain a link with the authenticity of the place: the material surfaces of the walls blend with the essential lines of the wooden panels, so as to create a whole ‘one between the components and generate a uniform environment. Even the furnishings respond to this design requirement, but in a completely contemporary key: from the curvilinear and enveloping sofas in natural grain leather, to the wooden tables, both circular and quadrangular, with simple shapes, from the padded and ergonomic seats, to the oak laid in a Hungarian herringbone pattern. As in the case of the finishes, even for the furnishings, each object, even in its own singularity, is inextricably linked to the others. The end result is a space with a strong architectural identity that enhances and completes the culinary experience.
