La bottega is a new Italian eatery located on the Grand Canal in the old district of Hangzhou. The three founders all grew-up in different parts of Italy – from Florence, Venice and Rome and recently came to back to China to start a new life. With a deep love of Italian culture and cuisine they decided to bring an authentic experience to the city.
The site is situated along a narrow leafy street with traditional style Chinese teahouses set amongst other stone buildings. A little lane along the side of the building provides a glimpse of what lies within; the Italian inspired street and exterior patio overlooking the river along the rear.
Our initial concept took notes from the artisans and bottegas of Italy, and whilst the design had to be authentic and classic the client wanted modern touches and edgy visual elements to bring the space to life.
hcreates design lead Alex Davies said the buildings age and location gave it an instant backbone and genuineness to the project which was a great starting point. “When starting the design we wanted to respect the buildings heritage whilst curating an artisanal Italian aesthetic that adds character and warmth.”
Green arched windows line the exterior of the traditional grey brick façade flooding the interior with natural light. The existing wooden pitched roof structure remains exposed to which the designers added more skylights, to create a light and airy atmosphere. Custom timber banquettes with soft upholstery in warm earthy hues are spread amongst the room, creating some flexibility for both small and large groups.. These soft, intimate elements are juxtaposed against the raw existing shell and geometric tiled flooring.. In every element we wanted to evoke the sense of artisanal craft, all the way from the food itself, to the butcher’s block table it sits upon.
At the end of the space is the feature bar and working pizza area. The black and white tiled counters with marble tops give a nod towards the traditional, referencing the classic history of the food. Shelves lined with wine, Italian produce; and open cabinets, with stacked plates create an organically styled and casual eatery vibe. This eclectic approach to the space was enhanced by th team’s playful and edgy branding. Reflected in the vibrant artworks hanging on the walls in traditional style, this mix of new and old is continued throughout.
hcreates founder Hannah Churchill said of the final project that “the space feels very warm and vibrant and we are so pleased to hear positive feedback from guests already about the design truly transporting them to a different place”
