The SCATTO restaurant was designed to be a contemporary space that celebrates and enhances culinary art, drawing inspiration from photography for the language of its architecture and interior design – hence the name of the venue, which literally translates into “photograph” or “snap”.
In material and visual continuity with the new Gallerie d’Italia museum, the SCATTO project puts light front and center: by using a blend of reflective materials, like steel and mirrored glass, and opaque options like wood, light transforms the perception of spaces by balancing more visible and more secluded areas.
The architectural concept creates a visual cone that has its vertex at the main focus of the space: the kitchen. The undisputed protagonist is the chef’s table covered in Emperador marble, in material continuity with the counter of the Caffè San Carlo, which allows guests to enjoy the chefs’ culinary art as if they were looking into the lens of a camera.
The same approach underlies other architectural details, such as the soundproofing and lighting ceiling panels that recall the perspective shape of the kitchen area, “framing” the tables with custom tops and the Lea chairs by Midj.
At the entrance, sharp steel panels are inserted into the mirror wall – elevated by the antique patina and trim – to showcase the wine and food products available for sale. The mirrors were processed to simulate the texture of photographic film, bringing into the interior design an additional material reference to this art.
The wardrobe area, camouflaged behind the hostess’s station, features Canaletto walnut wood paneling. The structure also serves as a separation between the reception area and the dining room.
At the center of the restaurant, a large modular table stands out for its sculptural shape – in contrast with the linear design of the rest of the interiors – and can be put together to form a convivial table or separated into single elements.
For lighting, lamatilde chose Pendagli hanging lamps by Vesoi, Eclipse spotlights by Erco, and Pop recessed spotlights by OTY Light. In the VIP area, which is a more intimate space with a side window that opens directly into the kitchen, the 2097/50 chandelier designed by Gino Sarfatti for Flos is reminiscent of the historical one maintained in Caffè San Carlo.
Team:
Interior Designers: lamatilde
Photographer: Alessandro Saletta
