studiotamat transforms historic bakery in rome into restaurant-bar hybrid 'tre de tutto'

studiotamat has transformed an abandoned historic bakery in rome’s garbatella neighborhood into ‘tre de tutto’, a hybrid between a refined restaurant and a local bar. the project combines existing features, such as untreated walls in neutral shades, with contemporary elements and a dynamic palette of colors and materials. arranged on two levels to accommodate the natural inclination of the ground, ‘tre de tutto’ is characterized by a ground floor with a triangular layout, and a large central cruciform pillar that divides the spaces.all images © seven h. zhang

studiotamat’s ‘tre de tutto’ features three generous, full-height, custom-designed arched windows, and invites visitors and locals in with a neon sign that reads: ‘how beautiful garbatella is!’. the ground floor of the restaurant-bar has a triangular layout, and a large central cruciform pillar that divides the spaces. reserved for breakfasts and aperitifs, with a lounge area dedicated to vinyl records, this room is dominated by a macro-counter covered with only two large slabs.

above a 1.50 m high majolica cladding, the walls on the ground level are left in their original state, with holes and traces of old systems to exhibit the passage of time, and are only finished with a transparent protective layer. the floor has been replaced by poured concrete finished in transparent resin for a discreet and minimally invasive result. the interior’s preexisting neutral shades are contrasted by a dynamic palette, studied together with the color consultant sabina guidotti.

the wall cladding combines deep blue majolica with contrasting brick-colored joints, fusing with the orange plum and bluette veins of the counter. at the same time, the recycled iron chairs in yellow and flesh-pink complement the leather color of the benches, which are covered with a nautical technical fabric. the tables, also in recycled iron, are equipped with colored wood tops, rolled ad-hoc with soft decorations.

the lower floor houses two dining rooms, the restaurant’s kitchen, services and the warehouses. light blue walls alternate with walls covered with grid wallpaper by texturae, while the connection with the upper level is completed by a salmon-colored staircase-tunnel with portholes. an independent entrance allows access to the restaurant directly from the street thanks to a single bright yellow ramp with a highly geometric iron structure, padded with micro-perforated sheet metal panels.

‘owners mirko tommasi and daniele notte propose revisited classics of roman cuisine, taking inspiration from one of the most authentic neighbourhoods in rome, in the same way that our goal from the beginning was not to distort the pre-existing space, but to enhance it and at the same time, bond with its clientele,’ says matteo soddu, co-founder of studiotamat. ‘so, we left the rough walls, with the original layers of plaster, to dialogue with the contemporary design of the architectural elements that characterize the space, from the clean-cut counter that dominates the bar, to the exquisitely pop staircase of the restaurant.’