The project
The project brief is to re-design a pizzeria in Garbatella, Rome according to the new client’s requirements. The restaurant is next to Piazza August Albini and was recently renovated in a traditional industrial style.
The Client
Born in the British Mandate of Palestine in 1929, Rina grew up on a Kibbutz. An intentionally socialist community rooted in agriculture, the Kibbutz symbolizes what it means to take care of the world around you. Nostalgic for the days when meals were a shared social experience, Rina wishes to bring her favorite aspects of the kibbutz dining hall to Rome, Italy, while also making improvements to the parts she could have lived without.
The Dining Hall was more than just a place to eat food. It was a social and spiritual hub where events and celebrations took place. Depending on the occasion, food was served in different ways. During the typical work week, food was served buffet style, while on Shabbat, a cart would go around and bring prepared food to the tables. In more formal or upscale situations, fellow Kibbutz members would go around and cater to the diners.
The client working on the farm as a child.
A subtle mix between warm and cool, colorful but subdued, nature filtered through craft is at the core of this design. Natural materials, earth tones, and craftsmanship are what elevates this space from the traditional Kibbutz dining hall.
