At the Esquilino neighbourhood, a stone’s throw from Piazza Vittorio in Rome, STUDIOTAMAT has designed Ardecore, the new pop-contemporary pizzeria which combines local excellence and fresh reinterpretations, craftsmanship and contemporary design.
A single window on the street leads to the entrance, characterized by a counter covered in fiery red Alpi Sottsass wood, tamed by an indigo wall embellished with wallpaper squares with an abstract pattern inspired by natural shapes. Crafted by designer Daniela Pinotti and printed on vinyl covering and sound-absorbent panels to improve the acoustic comfort of the room, the Layers Wallpaper is the leitmotif of the interiors, which accommodates 70 seats for both lunch and dinner.
A wall adorned with a purple iron structure, powder-coated and made by local blacksmiths, punctuates the space dedicated to brick seating and showcases niched purchasable products that complement the menu, sourced from small agricultural businesses in Irpinia.
Further on, a large room overlooks an internal courtyard, perfect for use in the warmer season, cradled by arches that enclose the brick seats. The backdrop of the central arch is covered with the same wallpaper as the entrance, a sort of abstract backdrop that projects guests into the depths of the earth.
The interiors spread out over a surface area of over 300 m2, where halfway you meet the burning “core”, the operational area of the oven, built onsite in refractory materials. Covered in matt black majolica and surrounded by shiny dark walls, it evokes magma, burnt matter, ash:
The skillful use of color defines and distinguishes the environments, from the kitchen, the laboratory and the service zones, to the more sociable areas, where the discreet beauty of indigo and moss green intertwine, calibrating the bright red of the iron structures and chandeliers.
The tables are custom-designed with a carmine structure in powder-coated iron and a top made of red and bi-colour red/green Abet laminate, which contrast strikingly with the black chairs by Table Place Chairs and the indigo walls of the rooms.
The Pixel enamelled porcelain covering, produced by 41zero42 in the 11.5×11.5 cm format, with its super matt green finish, covers the brick seats and some benches, integrating perfectly with Daniela Pinotti’s abstract lines.
Bold and surprising, traditional and contemporary, Ardecore designed by STUDIOTAMAT redefines the pizzeria in a pop key. It embodies an unconventional, informal and refined culinary experience.
