Cozze Ristorante is a modern Italian restaurant located in Brasília, designed by Hersen Mendes Arquitetura. It skillfully blends traditional Italian style with local Brazilian elements, creating a dining space that emphasizes materials, lighting, and human rhythm.
1. Design Concept
• Modern Interpretation of Italian Style: Through colors, textures, and geometric structures, it reinterprets the warmth and sophistication of Italian dining spaces.
• Balance of Materials and Lighting: The alternating use of natural stone (quartzite, Silestone), handmade Brazilian terrazzo tiles, and glazed bricks creates a tactile play of light and shadow.
• Human-Centric Approach: The layout is designed around the “rhythm of people,” guiding guests naturally while incorporating art and craftsmanship to enhance the dining experience.
2. Spatial Features
• Integration of Curves and Straight Lines:
- The winding terrace at the entrance slows the pace, while the curved bar becomes the focal point, combining functionality with social interaction.
- Subtle variations in vertical and horizontal planes divide areas while maintaining continuity.
• Material Contrast:
- The alternation of matte and polished stone regulates light and texture.
- The use of eco-friendly MDF panels ensures visual lightness and structural stability.
• Artistic Integration:
- Custom paintings, marble sculptures, and handcrafted seating inject color and memorability into the space.
- The façade sculpture extends artistic dialogue, turning the entrance into a “gallery-like” transitional space.
3. Environmental Integration
• Preservation of Natural Elements: The layout incorporates existing trees, with their shade providing natural cover for the terrace, reflecting harmony between urban and natural environments.
• Energy Efficiency: LED lighting reduces energy consumption while accurately rendering material colors at night, maintaining a serene and cozy ambiance.
4. Color and Atmosphere
• Traditional Italian Palette: Warm earth tones contrast with cool stone, while saturated colors accent the bar and seating areas, with neutral tones dominating the dining zones.
• Day-to-Night Transition: Low-intensity evening lighting softens edges, with materials and art collaborating to create comfort under dim illumination.
Cozze Ristorante meticulously balances materials, geometry, and art to adapt Italian culinary culture to Brasília’s urban context, resulting in a design that blends modernity with warmth.
Photography by Júlia Tótoli
