al taulell restaurant in valencia by viruta lab

al taulell echoes the hustle and bustle of local street markets while honoring valencian architecture

set in the historic neighborhood of arrancapins in valencia, al taulell immerses guests in a familiar gastronomic experience. with its imperfect strokes and raw designs, the restaurant evokes the bustle of local street markets while rescuing the architectural imprint unique to valencia.

getting with the times, multidisciplinary studio viruta lab has materialized this restoration project through an exercise of reinterpretation and adaption — resulting in a modern space imbued with the essence of local, traditional design.

all images © david zarzoso

with its exposed bricks, patinas of paint, and original ironwork, al taulell appeals for the respect and architectural consolidation of the most emblematic neighborhoods hosting these weekly street markets that e stalls of canvas and metal, filled with fresh local produce. its walls, modified by previous interventions, have been sifted by viruta lab (see more here) with elements of valencian traditions such as the alicante shutter of solid wood slats, characteristic of this city.

a dining experience inviting socialization and flexibility through a bar-like atmosphere

spatially, the restaurant’s geometric irregularity enables it to be zoned into two areas: a lobby that showcases fresh products, leading to a dining room with a row of tables to encourage socialization.

with its double-height bar embracing the semi-open kitchen, the foyer invites users to sit down and enjoy this new gastronomic experience. in the dining room, several longitudinal tables sit together, offering a bar-like atmosphere to evoke the neighborhood’s familial character. the heads of each table appear as semicircles with a double metal ring to provide more independent seating arrangements — a sort of ‘extra space’ for those who prefer a quicker and more informal tapas experience.

al taulell restaurant

depicting art nouveau aesthetics, highlighted by suspended accoustic domes

maría daroz and david puerta, the creative team at viruta lab, have also put forth their interior design skills by designing all furniture objects within the restaurant. the aesthetic is based on a refined art nouveau character and minimal color range: gold, two blue hues, and off-white.

the bars and tables feature a metal profile of circular sections on porcelain, modularly crowned by suspended acoustic domes that provide light to the space. enhancing the feeling of being in the street, the ceiling holds an irregular veil with untreated iron gratings that will age with time, becoming integrated into the historical patina of al taulell.