Portraying local agriculture through the geometrical play of textile weave
Located in the Orobic Alps of Northern Italy, the BLUM IN restaurant in Rovetta showcases a transformative use of space through an aerial narrative, artfully crafted with locally sourced materials given new purpose.
Architect Francesca Perani reimagined this local eatery, enhancing the traditional dining experience by weaving together utility, aesthetic appeal, and storytelling rooted in tradition. A design that aims to transcend the culinary, highlighting the interplay between nature-inspired textures and precise geometric forms.
Set within a space rich in history, originally a stable, later transformed into a typical pre-alpine guesthouse, the restaurant is a meld of robust architectural elements like vaults and arches, warm interiors marked by light hues and wooden furnishings. The project’s primary objective was to infuse character into the restaurant’s main hall while improving the acoustic quality of the vaulted ceilings. A secondary goal was creating discrete, private spaces near the entrance and fire oven, integrating the brand’s identity.
The narrative of the project emerged by exploring the region’s agricultural legacy: the locally cherished red roasted corn, a longstanding staple of the area’s culinary tradition, a distinctive variety of corn cultivated since the beginning of the 20th century in the town’s high plateau fields. This led to creating the design’s centerpiece, the “Kernel Tapestry” aerial installation.
Above the dining area hangs a sculptural installation that spans the length of the ceiling. Comprising 150 identical elements, each element resembles a stylized corn kernel and is suspended from a grid framework. An alternating geometry of cylindrical pieces laid diagonally, designed to shape a single dancing body. These locally produced felt sleeves, typically used in bakery industrial machinery, are arranged in a curved formation at varying heights to emulate the natural shape of a corn cob.
The choice of natural wool felt was valued for its soundproofing properties and its intricate beauty, texture, and tactile appeal. This material seeks to connect diners with the ancient tradition rooted in agricultural history, acting as a homage to everyday objects and thus infusing the space with a sense of ‘warmth’.
The installation presents itself as a smooth, organic form, imparting a sense of movement and fluidity. It incorporates functional lighting, including central alignment and side-placed spotlights, which enhance the dining experience by creating an intimate and theatrically engaging ambience. A support structure, both flexible and rigid, acts as the load-bearing element, anchored to the vaulted ceiling over a span of 8 meters. This is composed of a series of black iron grids, selected to contrast with the restaurant’s light shades.
Additional prefabricated iron grids complement the design throughout the space, serving multiple purposes. These grids provide subtle division, signage, and display opportunities. In the main hall, a dual-grid structure suspended from above serves as an elegant backdrop for displaying wine bottles and as a partition between the main dining area and the fire oven section.
The blend of soft, light felts with harsh black grids transforms this compact, whimsical design into an ephemeral reversible intervention. It reflects local craftsmanship and traditions, aiming to offer a vibrant visual experience that amplifies the enjoyment of food.
