Cento61 — AIT Magazine no. 06
CENTO61 PUBLISHED IN AIT MAGAZINE 06 | 2018
Cento61, the new bistro created by Studio Didea in Palermo. The project stems from the renovation of an old restaurant located in a historic building from the early 1900s, following the client's intention to create “a special venue with a light and informal atmosphere, that becomes a regular meeting place for the people of Palermo to eat, drink, share and return”. The venue is introduced by a large outdoor space and then develops over 130 sqm of interior space at a lowered level of 1.50 m. “The design challenge was to transform the basement we were dealing with into an airy space, enhancing the garden and choosing finishes and materials that amplify the interior brightness,” explain the designers.
The large centuries-old Cycas palm defines the pivot around which the garden design unfolds, articulated through simple elements on different levels: at street level, a sort of long counter and tall metal stools overlook the lower level where metal tables and wide wooden seating give rhythm to the space. White-painted metal – as close-mesh netting and as framing – is the constant design signature in the various rooms within the venue; an element with industrial echoes, here applied to the walls as a neutral backdrop so as to accentuate the brightness and the fluid, continuous perception of the space.
Spread along all the vertical surfaces, the metal elements alternate with oak wood panels, Calacatta marble slabs, and Niagara-blue inserts, creating a geometry of full colors and warm materials that makes the venue's interior vivid; the fluorescent yellow and light-blue tones of the seats, alternating with the cobalt blue of the sofas, further enliven the environment. The lighting design featured two strips of continuous, dimmable LED light placed behind the metal netting; from the ceiling structures, Flos brass pendant lamps become new light points for each room.