Architecture

When history and modernity meet: the project by lamatilde for Caffè San Carlo and the SCATTO restaurant in Turin

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When history and modernity meet: the project by lamatilde for Caffè San Carlo and the SCATTO restaurant in Turin it has been modified: 2023-03-19 di Benedetto Fiori

Lamatilde signs the restyling of the Caffè San Carlo and the project of the SCATTO restaurant. The two projects are based on two different philosophies which, in the first case, highlight the historical legacy and conservation, in the second the topicality.

The historic Caffè San Carlo in Turin has found new life thanks to the work carried out by the lamatilde studio inside the Gallerie d'Italia, the new Intesa San Paolo exhibition venue inaugurated in May 2022. The project involved the restyling of the Café and the design of the SCATTO restaurant, managed by well-known chefs Christian and Manuel Costardi (Costardi Bros).

Caffè San Carlo, already open two hundred years ago, has been transformed into an elegant bistro that complements the SCATTO restaurant, characterized by a modern design in line with the needs of the new millennium. The lamatilde studio has worked to preserve the identity of the place, maintaining the elements that make it one of the most emblematic places of Turin in the 1800s, without neglecting the innovative aspect required by the new context.

The SCATTO restaurant, on the other hand, was designed as a highly contemporary space and in line with the exhibition halls of the Gallerie d'Italia, designed by Michele De Lucchi and AMDL Circle. The project envisaged the creation of a welcoming and refined environment, where customers can taste the delicacies of the Costardi Bros cuisine, which blends tradition and innovation in a unique way.

Lamatilde's work within the Gallerie d'Italia, which combines historical heritage and modernity, respects the design coordinates of the entire complex, which is characterized by the Baroque historicity of the main floors and the contemporary personality of the exhibition halls. Caffè San Carlo and the SCATTO restaurant therefore represent an ideal meeting point between the past and the present, where visitors can appreciate the beauty of Turin's history and, at the same time, enjoy high-quality gastronomic experiences.

San Carlo coffee

Caffè San Carlo, a historic café in the city centre, has recently undergone a restyling by the lamatilde studio. The intervention focused on a discreet and respectful renovation of the classic identity of the place, however paying great attention to the use of cutting-edge materials and processes.

The protagonist element of the main room is undoubtedly the central peninsula counter, made with oak wood and finished with a bamboo cane texture in relief, an explicit reference to the decorative pilasters present in the original room. The top of the counter is instead in polished Emperador Dark marble, to give a touch of elegance and refinement to the whole.

The counter, very central in the room, is enhanced by the presence of the sumptuous original chandelier and by two red velvet sofas, with elegant lines and characterized by high backs that recall the typical nineteenth-century armchairs.

The back counter displays, created in collaboration with OliveLab, are characterized by a metal frame structure and built-in lighting, able to follow the rhythm of the original architectural elements.

To maintain a coherent style with the original, the studio chose Midj furnishings: Lea sofas and armchairs, upholstered in red velvet, and Smart coffee tables, with dark marble tops to match that of the central counter.

Finally, lamatilde also took care of the visuals of the menus and windows, enriched by some illustrations that tell the story of Caffè San Carlo as a meeting place for the city. The sentences present in the windows celebrate the two hundred years of history of the place, announcing a continuation in the present and in the future. The restyling of the Caffè San Carlo is an example of how it is possible to renovate a historic place without betraying its identity and tradition, but on the contrary enhancing its beauty and history.

Scatto restaurant

The SCATTO restaurant is a new contemporary space that celebrates the culinary art through the inspiration of photography as an architectural and display language. The name of the restaurant itself refers to the idea of ​​a photographic 'shot', capturing the beauty and essence of the dining experience.

The SCATTO project integrates perfectly with the new Gallerie d'Italia museum, with a visual and material continuity that focuses on light and the use of reflective and absorbent materials, such as steel, mirrored glass and wood, to create spaces balanced between areas in sight and more intimate areas.

The central element of the restaurant is the kitchen, the true protagonist of the space, which is "framed" by architectural details such as the soundproofing and lighting ceilings and the chef table covered in Emperador marble. Customers can witness the chefs' creations as if they were looking through a camera lens.

The attention to detail continues in the antiqued mirrored wall with vertical slats, where there are steel blades displaying the gastronomic products for sale. The processing of the mirrors simulates the grain of photographic films, bringing a further material reference to the art of photography.

Lighting is another fundamental element of the restaurant experience, with Pendagli suspension lamps by Vesoi, Eclipse spotlights by Erco and Pop recessed spotlights by OTY Light. Furthermore, in the private area, we find the 2097/50 chandelier designed by Gino Sarfatti for Flos, which recalls the historic chandelier of the Caffè San Carlo.

The studio responsible for the project also took care of the visual part, with perspective graphics for the menus that follow the architecture of the restaurant, using sharp lines to frame and accompany the various courses.

SCATTO is therefore a restaurant that celebrates the culinary art in a contemporary setting, where photography and architecture merge to create a unique and engaging experience for customers.

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