Francesco Moncada Reinvents The Pizza Restaurant In Italy

If you had to describe the interior of a pizza restaurant you’d probably note some fake brick, maybe a lot of white tile, some fake plants, and poster or two of some iconic landmark in Italy. Architect Francesco Moncada envisioned something completely different for Pizza Perez located in Syracuse, Italy.

The project brief contained all the usual suspects, a low budget, not a lot of floor space, and the need to have a separate dining and pick up area. Moncada started with the desire to make the dining experience more social and stay away from booth seating that creates closed groups. To achieve this, a chair and table module was selected with a minimum size volume. These modules were then placed close together to encourage interaction between customers.

The team then tackled the interior design. Due to the tight budget, a simple collection of materials were selected that are more common to construction sites. A central dividing wall clad in translucent fiberglass paneling creates separation between the dining area and the take out counter. Within the wall, shelving has been provided to customers for their bags and coats. The flooring and back kitchen wall are clad in common marine grade plywood.

Graphic design firm Point Supreme was brought in to create the environmental graphics in the space. They devised two large wall graphics located on either side of the restaurant. On the dining side, a large diagram was created which graphically depicts all the possible pizza ingredient combinations available. The idea was to celebrate the variety and choice available. Its part scientific diagram part pop art piece. Over on the pickup side is a full size image of a zebra. It is colorless, simple in its appearance and it refuses to suggest an explanation. It is simply standing there beautiful, mysterious, surreal and intending to inspire thoughts and discussions between customers waiting for a table or a take out order.

[ via Dezeen]