The Cheriff restaurant comes from a long tradition of local family businesses. It first opened its doors as a small fish shop in the late sixties by Mr. Pedro Ruipérez, an eccentric being who used to dress up as a sheriff to work. The restaurant was then passed onto “Nini”, as the neighbours called her, the granddaughter of the original founder. Today, Cheriff has turned into a culinary classic, known for its history and quality, with fresh fish coming in directly from the neighbouring docks.
Cheriff is part of Barceloneta’s memory. A classic in the neighbourhood, it needed an atemporal design that preserved the authenticity time bestowed onto the restaurant. As part of a strategy seeking timelessness, the distribution into compact areas (typical of the fish shop), was kept in tact in order to speak to the local community. As designer Massimo Vignelli described it, timelessness is created when things are easily understood. He spoke of “intellectual elegance”, as simplicity is by no means “simple”, but rather the result of a long process of experimentation, revaluation and refining.
Including artisanry into design means making it human. Artisanry adds subtlety, strength, and value. It’s closely connected to identity and authenticity, as its origins are traceable to collective creativity. Like the Japanese said, there is no ego in artisanry. “The arts of the people” evokes notions of uniqueness, honesty and attention to detail. Being authentic is about being sincere and responsible. Craftsmanship draws on knowledge, skill and history, hence its connection to quality.
Artisanry is present in the reinvention of Cheriff’s terrazo, a technique to flooring passed through generations of forming artisan maestros. It’s a composite material consisting of chips of marble, quartz, granite and glass, and is poured in place with a cementitious binder, polymeric, or a combination of both, allowing for multiple colors, complex designs, and whimsical patterns to be constructed. Combined with the soft textile elements in white (curtains and tablecloths), an intimate atmosphere comes into being.
Material Used :
1. Furniture: Silla Gaulino (bd design)
2. Bathrooms: Iconico
Lighting:
1. Hans Verstuyft Spot On Surface Mounted
2. Flos Modelo IC S2Suspension
3. Flos Modeloo IC F2 Lights Floor 2
