Shiny colors, neon lighting and expressive furnishings create a playful temper inside this Brooklyn restaurant, designed by native studio Format Structure Workplace.
Cafe Mars is an Italian eatery situated in Gowanus, based by co-chefs Jorge Olarte, and Paul D’Avino – whose grandfather lived throughout the road when he first emigrated from Campania in 1901.
Honouring these roots, the restaurant is designed as a celebration of all issues Italy: from the Memphis design motion of the Eighties to the glamorous Amalfi Coast.
“It was necessary to attach the intent of the culinary expertise with the intent of the spatial expertise,” mentioned Format principal and co-founder Andrew McGee.
“If the driving power of the menu was to showcase information and love of conventional Italian delicacies, twisted and subverted at simply the correct moments to create one thing playfully rebellious and strange, it appeared solely pure to reference the character and motion in [Ettore] Sottsass and the Memphis model with the same classic within the structure and design realm,” he continued.
To enter the 1,100-square-foot (100-square-metre) restaurant, guests should flip a pasta die door deal with sourced from native third-generation producer D Malardi & Sons.
“The element is an enthralling nod to the constructing’s pasta manufacturing unit and Italian grocery historical past while ushering in its restaurant future,” the studio mentioned.
As soon as contained in the lengthy slim entrance house, the bar space may be discovered on the correct and a row of back-to-back banquettes runs alongside the left.
The bar and the open kitchen additional down are framed by white oak panelled arches, revealing a vibrant blue again bar that echoes the identical form.
A tall, gentle gray counter varieties an L-shape throughout the first arch, with a decrease floor for diners seated in customized chairs by Studio Apotroes with scorching pink zig-zag legs.
Extra seats – this time with white particulars – face the kitchen space, beside a vibrant inexperienced shelving unit for tableware tucked below the bar counter.
Reverse, the customized double-sided banquettes have ribbed edges and are colored one yellow for each two white.
In between are arched yellow panels with round holes that expose the unique brick partitions behind, and Stuff by Andrew Neyer globe pendants that dangle above every desk.
The “blue room” within the again options cobalt-coloured seating that contrasts the uncovered brick partitions, black window frames and white hexagonal ground tiles.
Scorching pink reappears within the cords of pendant lights with MushLume shades constructed from mushroom mycelium, whereas bespoke wood tables have puzzle-piece tops that slot collectively in varied configurations.
At night time, vibrant LED lights throughout the round wall components, below the bar counter and above the again bar all match a neon signal within the window, which traces the Cafe Mars brand designed by artist Massimo Mongiardo.
His illustrations of pasta shapes may be discovered all through the interiors, together with within the loos, and throughout the black-painted curler shutters pulled down when the restaurant is closed.
“The aim was to strike a fragile steadiness between fanciful and comforting, transformative and acquainted,” mentioned Format co-founder and principal Matthew Hettler.
“The design, nevertheless loud, turns into a backdrop for a high quality expertise, and that’s one thing we’re enthusiastic about.”
Different relative newcomers to Brooklyn’s ever-evolving culinary scene embody Nabila’s, a Lebanese spot designed by Frederick Tang Structure, and Usonian-inspired eatery Sereneco that includes interiors by Carpenter + Mason.
Over in Manhattan, the variety of Italian eating places continues to balloon, with Dangerous Roman and Cucina Alba among the many many to have opened prior to now yr.
The pictures is by Nick Glimenakis.
Venture credit:
Structure and inside design: Format Structure Workplace
Venture crew: Clare Hačko, David Hettler, Matt Hettler, Andrew McGee
Building: Rusk
Structural engineer: Blue Sky Design
MEP engineer: Division of Approvals
