The Demaio family's new pizzeria occupies the ground floor of a historic building in the Bilbao Ensanche, next to Jardines de Albia, the San Vicente de Abando church and the Café Antzoki. This project arose from the need to create a second/third location for the award-winning Pizzeria Demaio, in this case in the centre of the city of Bilbao. The premises, with an elongated rectangular floor plan, has a façade that gives on to Calle San Vicente and another that opens onto an interior courtyard. The main façade stands out for its two large windows, opening up the pizzeria premises to the public.
The concept of the project focuses on bringing the workshop area closer to the main façade next to the public reception, in order to conceive a design space with a kitchen open to the public. This approach allows customers and passers-by to observe the pizza making process, emphasising the quality of the products used, while enjoying a more immersive experience. The layout allows the dining areas to be located in the daylight spaces on the ground floor next to the main façade and in the new mezzanine next to the rear façade. This strategic distribution allows light to enter from both the main street and the backyard, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere. The height of the premises, in addition to creating two spaces for diners, facilitates the lower part of the mezzanine to house the restaurant's kitchen.
For the dining area, a system of modular and flexible tables has been developed that can be grouped in different ways to accommodate groups of different sizes. This system is complemented by a system of bars with movable lamps to adjust them to the needs of the moment.
In terms of design and materials, as in previous Demaio restaurants, the essence of traditional Italian pizzerias has been maintained, incorporating noble materials of the period. These elements seek to capture the essence of the traditional trattoria, using simple and functional materials that at the same time give the place a defined aesthetic character. The flooring, executed in a continuous terrazzo, provides an authentic and functional feel. For the vertical finishes, it has been chosen to continue with the single-colour tiling in the workroom area, while the dining rooms are clad with a brass plinth, the upper part of the walls in Tadelakt. In addition, the original wall coverings that do not require soundproofing have been left exposed, highlighting the masonry and the old stonework in the façade area. The decorative elements and cladding are made of brass, while the tables display the timelessness of marble.
