Cantinella Restaurant

Interior view of the restaurant.

Project Details

• Project Name: Cantinella Restaurant
• Project Type: Retail design
• Principal Designer: Christian B. Lynch, Simon Eisinger
• Design Team: Emily Pannepacker
• Date of commencement of project: July 2003
• Date of completion of project: October 2003
• Location of site: 23 Avenue A, East Village, NYC
• Site Area: 1100 square feet
• Built-up Area: 800 square feet

The material palette is largely decided by the traditions that inspire the design.

The Building

The Cantinella Restaurant is a modern interpretation of the wood-lined wine stores found throughout Italy serving wine and food in the evenings and with its crowds often spilling out into the streets and piazzas. With a similar concept in mind, the architects opened the facade of this restaurant in New York City to its street. A wooden bench penetrating the storefront wall serves as a window seat inside the restaurant and as a seating surface on the outside as well. The connection to the outside is further accentuated with materials that flow from the street into the interiors of the restaurant.

View of the restaurant from its entrance.

The restaurant bar and other built-in elements are made of natural walnut and blackened steel, materials which subtly evoke the material traditions of wine casks, while remaining unquestionably modern. While the space itself is relatively small, the architects make the most of the high ceilings, contrasting them with a lowered ceiling over the bar.

Interior view of the bathroom.

Taking cue from the "dazzle" patterns once used by the Italian navy, the side and back walls are painted in gently contrasting colors with a pattern that visually extends the space, a modernist trompe l'oeil, which carries over even onto the ceiling. The end result is a dining room which is intimate but not cramped, warm yet modern, and elegant without being stuffy.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy of the architect
• Photographs: Amy Barkow, Barkow Photo, www.barkowphoto.com
• Compiled and edited by Manish Mehta