Erik Bratsberg fills Persona restaurant with tactile materials
CategoriesInterior Design

Erik Bratsberg fills Persona restaurant with tactile materials

Interior designer Erik Bratsberg has created unique artwork for the interior of the Persona restaurant in Stockholm, which also features asymmetrical terrazzo and patinated brass details.

Bratsberg, who worked in finance before moving into interior design, wanted the fine dining restaurant in Stockholm’s upmarket Östermalm neighbourhood to have a warm and welcoming feel.

Terrazzo floor at PersonaTerrazzo floor at Persona
Persona is located in Stockholm’s Östermalm area

“The inspiration is drawn from a mix of personal experiences, subconscious imprints from admired styles, particularly mid-century Italian design, and a desire to integrate a homely warmth into a hospitality environment,” he told Dezeen.

“The design philosophy centres around creating a timeless, inviting space that enhances the dining experience while maintaining a sense of personal touch and intimacy.”

Bar in Stockholm restaurantBar in Stockholm restaurant
Green tones feature throughout the interior

Green hues are used throughout Persona‘s 120-square-metre interior, complementing its cream-coloured walls and numerous wooden furniture pieces and panelling.

“Green is my go-to when I want to arouse a sense of calmness and comfort,” Bratsberg explained.

Soft white chairs in front of curtained windowSoft white chairs in front of curtained window
Designer Erik Bratsberg used furniture pieces with rounded and organic shapes

“It’s a tertiary colour, a mix of a cold and a warm colour, which allows it to go well with both warmer and colder hues and materials – a yin and yang of colours somehow,” he added.

“Green also brings the mind to nature and I guess my love for green relates to the joy of seeing the leaves back on the trees after a long Swedish winter.”

Wood-panelled wall in Östermalm restaurantWood-panelled wall in Östermalm restaurant
“Honey-tinted” oak shelving is filled with crockery and art

The restaurant, which feels more like a living room than an eatery in parts, also features plenty of natural materials such as stone and wood, which are interspersed with terrazzo and brass to create tactile interest.

This material mix was chosen to evoke a sense of “casual elegance”, Bratsberg said.

“For the floor I played around with the possibilities of terrazzo, using shades of green and warm greys and whites forming an asymmetrical pattern,” the designer explained.

Bratsberg clad the walls of the Persona restaurant in an off-white plaster with a mottled surface, designed to contrast the “silky honey-tinted oak” used for the wall shelving and tables.

“Patinated brass together with details in yellow ochre acts as an accent,” Bratsberg added. “Sheer curtains, patinated leather and textured textiles round it all off.”

Living-room like corner in Persona eateryLiving-room like corner in Persona eatery
Bratsberg created his own artworks for the restaurant

Custom-made abstract artworks also decorate the interior. Bratsberg made these himself from watercolour paintings that he had made, which were then screen-printed onto acoustic panels.

“In my multidisciplinary practice I strive to interrelate my art, design and interior work – why not make a lamp into sculpture, or a bar front as a painting, or a plain wall a relief?” Bratsberg said.

Jagged shapes decorate Stockholm restaurantJagged shapes decorate Stockholm restaurant
Cut-out geometric details add extra interest to the bar

Also notable in the interior is the variation of shapes, with the angular tables and counters contrasting against round and jagged lamps, cut-out geometric details and smaller tables made from organically shaped burl wood and stone.

“Perfectly straight lines and symmetry bring order and calmness for the eye, but never have I been particularly intrigued by squares and straight lines,” Bratsberg said.

“On the other hand, too much asymmetrical geometries and organic shapes can bring the feeling of disorder. But balancing the two – as with many opposites or contrasts – can create an interesting harmony,” he added.

Bathroom of Persona restaurantBathroom of Persona restaurant
The bathroom features undulating mirrors and a mix of different shapes

In the bathroom, undulating mirrors match a wavy sink and are juxtaposed against square wall niches and angled, jagged cut-out wall decorations.

“Forms, lines, colours and materiality speak to us in mysterious ways, but an interior without any sculptural form and asymmetries is like a language without exclamation marks, gestures or emotional expression to me,” Bratsberg concluded.

Other Stockholm restaurants with interesting interiors featured on Dezeen include an “unexpected” restaurant in a historic food hall and a decadent Italian restaurant located in a former cinema.

The photography is by Erik Lefvander.



Reference

Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo

From a pink-hued Ottolenghi restaurant in London to a muted pizzeria in Beijing, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 eateries from around the world that feature terrazzo elements.

Terrazzo is a flooring material that consists of uneven pieces of marble or granite set in concrete, which is then polished to give it a smooth finish.

Architects and interior designers often use the sturdy material in their projects to create practical floors, but also to give walls or other surfaces a speckled and decorative appearance.

We have collected 10 eateries that use terrazzo, such as on the tabletops of a fish and chip shop in Australia and to make up the floors of a Chinese teahouse.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing steely kitchens, green bedrooms and gardens with swimming pools.


Rosie Tillie cafe bar
Photo is by Niveditaa Gupta

Rosie and Tillie, India, by Renesa

Local architecture studio Renesa set terracotta tiles against smooth terrazzo surfaces at Rosie and Tillie, an all-day cafe in New Delhi.

Squat curved booths create sculptural seating throughout the eatery, which is located within a former Indian restaurant at a shopping mall in the Indian capital’s Saket neighbourhood.

Find out more about Rosie and Tillie ›


Smallfry Seafood restaurant by Sans-Arc Studio
Photo is by David Sievers

Smallfry Seafood, Australia, by Sans-Arc Studio

Smallfry Seafood is a chip shop in Adelaide, Australia, that takes cues from the aesthetics of Japanese seafood markets.

Sans-Arc Studio created a communal bar and curved tables from narrow slabs of light blue terrazzo. For the rest of the interiors, the studio chose mottled grey travertine and stained wood accents that are illuminated by globular pendant lights.

Find out more about Smallfry Seafood ›


Drop Coffee by Roar Studio
Photo is by Oculis Project

Drop Coffee, UAE, by Roar Studio

A decorative terrazzo floor mirrors a mural created from broken ceramic tiles at this Dubai cafe that was designed by Roar Studio at the city’s Dar Al Wasl Mall.

Drop Coffee has a colour palette of greys and whites, chosen to maintain focus on the cafe’s mix of industrial materials such as stainless steel and concrete.

“We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel by using broken tiles – our idea was to form a counterpoint to the terrazzo effect porcelain flooring as though the chips of the broken tiles were used in the flooring,” Roar Studio founder Pallavi Dean told Dezeen.

Find out more about Drop Coffee ›


Universal Design Studio
Photo is by Jovian Lim

Odette, Singapore, by Universal Design Studio 

Mosaic-like terrazzo floors formed from pale pink and white take centre stage at Odette, a restaurant in Singapore created by British practice Universal Design Studio.

A range of soft and smooth materials make up the interiors, from plush grey velvet benches and chairs to sleek nickel fixtures and statement planters.

Find out more about Odette ›


Entrance and waiting area in Ottolenghi Chelsea
Photo is courtesy of Alex Meitlis

Ottolenghi Chelsea, UK, by Alex Meitlis

London deli and restaurant chain Ottolenghi has opened a branch in Chelsea that features interior styling by designer Alex Meitlis, who created exposed plaster walls interspersed with pink terrazzo tiles.

The eatery includes slinky banquettes in red upholstery and low-slung rattan chairs, which are arranged around sculptural white tables.

Find out more about Ottolenghi Chelsea ›


Penta by Ritz&Ghougassian
Photo is by Tom Blachford

Penta, Australia, by Ritz&Ghougassian 

Terrazzo was used to create subtle geometric seating at Penta, a minimal cafe in Melbourne designed by local architecture studio Ritz&Ghougassian.

Jet black cushions and chairs contrast the grey speckled benches, while delicate native ferns add a touch of greenery to the otherwise monochrome interiors.

Find out more about Penta ›


Lievito gourmet pizza restaurant by MDDM Studio
Photo is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Lievito Gourmet Pizza, China, by MDDM Studio

Another eatery with a muted atmosphere, Lievito Gourmet Pizza by MDDM Studio features blocky custom-made tables and a central bar formed from powdery grey terrazzo.

The Beijing restaurant was designed with this layout in order to incorporate both open and more intimate dining spaces, which are arranged across three subtle levels.

Find out more about Lievito Gourmet Pizza ›


Interiors of Tingai Teahouse in Shanghai
Photo is by Dirk Weiblen

Tingtai Teahouse, China, by Linehouse

Situated inside an old factory space in Shanghai, Tingtai Teahouse is characterised by its intimate seating areas contained in elevated boxes positioned above a multi-level landscape of green terrazzo.

“We paired smoked oak and brushed darkened stainless steel with the green terrazzo to bring warmth into the space,” explained Linehouse founder Alex Mok.

Find out more about Tingtai Teahouse ›


B Natural Kitchen
Photo is by Samara Vise

B-Natural Kitchen, USA, by Atelier Cho Thompson 

A rounded bar and service counter with a multi-coloured terrazzo top and tamboured wood siding features in B-Natural Kitchen, a pastel-hued restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut.

Atelier Cho Thompson juxtaposed soft and bold finishes for the interiors, which include plant-themed graphic wallpaper that nods to the eatery’s menu of fresh ingredients.

Find out more about project B-Natural Kitchen ›


Design studio Biasol designs Middle Eastern-inspired Melbourne restaurant.
Photo is by Tom Blachford

Middle South East, Australia, by Biasol

Design studio Biasol took cues from Middle Eastern architecture for this Melbourne restaurant that juxtaposes deep blue and terracotta tones.

A tiled water station with terrazzo shelving features in the centre of the room, while clusters of dining tables and a bar are topped with the same speckled material.

Find out more about Middle South East ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing white bathrooms, light-filled extensions and homes with statement windows.

Reference

Ten architect-designed kitchens with terrazzo details
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten architect-designed kitchens with terrazzo details

The terrazzo trend shows no sign of slowing down, with the decorative speckled material cropping up in residential projects as well as in restaurants and workspaces. For this lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten playful and practical terrazzo kitchens.


Terrazzo is a composite material made by mixing marble, granite, quartz or glass chips with a binder such as cement or resin. The rough mixture is applied to walls and floors before being polished.

The protruding stone pieces create an irregularly flecked surface that adds a fun, organic feel to interiors. Alternatively, terrazzo can be pre-cast into tiles, surfaces or objects such as vases and basins.

White Rabbit House by Gundry + Ducker
Terrazzo has an irregularly flecked surface, seen here in the kitchen of White Rabbit House

The material originated in Italy, where it was developed as a way of using up stone offcuts. Its popularity has grown over the past few years and today it comes in many different colours and designs.

The material is hardwearing and easy to wipe down, making it suitable for heavily-used areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

These ten terrazzo kitchens from the Dezeen archive all feature clever takes on how to best use the eye-catching material.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.


White Rabbit House by Gundry + Ducker

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

When architecture studio Gundry & Drucker gave this 1970s house in London an overhaul, it used terrazzo both for the exterior and the interior, decorating the house’s facade as well as its floors with the material.

In the kitchen, a white terrazzo slab lines the floor and is matched with a green kitchen island with a black-and-white terrazzo top. The whole kitchen has been painted a vibrant green, creating a colourful contrast to the more subdued terrazzo.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›


Black kitchen island with oversized terrazzo

Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

In Glyn House (above and top), designers Yellow Cloud Studio used a playful, oversized terrazzo for the kitchen island, which is inlaid with colourful chunks of aggregate.

The furniture piece adds a graphic, almost Memphis-style touch to the otherwise traditional kitchen.

Find out more about Glyn House ›


Terrazzo floor in Spanish apartment

Galla House, Spain, by Cavaa

A pale-blue terrazzo floor with darker chips marks the kitchen area in this compact apartment in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. The flooring continues into the hallway to cleverly connect the two rooms and create a surface where the owners and guests can store shoes without creating a mess.

The speckled pattern adds interest to the otherwise pared-down flat, especially in combination with the turquoise wooden detailing used throughout the space.

Find out more about Galla House ›


Mài Apartment in Vietnam designed by Whale Design Lab

Mài apartment, Vietnam, by Whale Design Lab

Whale Design Lab’s design for Mài apartment was informed by modernist architecture, and especially the work of Louis Kahn. The studio used terrazzo to create this striking kitchen area as it was a big trend in southern Vietnam in the 1960s.

“Modernist architecture was introduced into the south of Vietnam in the mid-20th century,” explained the studio.

“The popular construction materials of modern buildings in the United States such as exposed-aggregate surface, terrazzo and cement became trendy in Saigon.”

Find out more about Mài apartment ›


Kitchen with terrazzo floor

Melbourne apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

Another project to pay homage to the 1960s is this Melbourne apartment that was renovated using the same colours and materials as its original mid-century interior.

Here, the architects used terrazzo floor tiles that were salvaged excess stock from a larger project to complement the original terrazzo flooring that still remains in the bathroom. The tiles feature unusually large stone chips in a brownish hue against a flecked black-and-white background.

Find out more about Melbourne apartment ›


Terrazzo kitchen splashback

Liberty House, UK, by SODA

It’s not just in residential projects that terrazzo has become popular, but also in workspaces and restaurants. In London office building Liberty House, designers SODA chose terrazzo from London-based producer Altrock to create the oversized patterns used for the practical kitchen splashback.

The studio also collaborated with Altrock to create custom-made surfaces with colours that match the rest of the design.

Find out more about Liberty House ›


Kitchen at Frame House by Bureau de Change

Frame House, UK, by Bureau de Change

Terrazzo is everywhere in Bureau de Change’s design for Frame House. A terrazzo floor in different shades unites the ground floor and upper stories of the split-level house, going from a pale taupe in the kitchen to darker hues.

The white kitchen island was given a red, white and black terrazzo with an almost marbled effect that adds a luxurious touch of colour and pattern to the space.

Find out more about Frame House ›


Terrazzo coffee bar with wooden shelves

Coffeebar, US, by Walker Warner Architects

This American coffeebar in the San Francisco Bay Area has a back wall and service area entirely clad in classic black-and-white flecked terrazzo.

Simple wooden shelving and cups and jugs in monochrome ceramics complement the practical terrazzo to create a simple yet stylish design.

Find out more about Coffeebar ›


Alfondac guest apartment by Aixopluc

Alfondac guesthouse, Spain, by Aixopluc

When Catalan architect Aixopluc created an experimental apartment above its office in Reus, it chose brown-and-white-speckled terrazzo surfaces for the kitchen and bathroom areas.

The slabs are made by tile brand Huguet from recycled glass and marble aggregate mixed with “green label” cement, which is meant to emit 35 per cent less carbon than standard cement.

Find out more about Alfondac guesthouse ›


House P by MDDM Studio

House P, China, by MDDM Studio

Colourful terrazzo fixtures decorate this Beijing apartment, with both the kitchen, bathroom and playroom clad in an off-white terrazzo with large chips.

“We wanted to use a material that could bring together the cement finishing of the floor and ceiling with the yellow walls,” designer Momo Andrea Destro told Dezeen.

“The colourful terrazzo is produced in the south of China by a specialized manufacturer who assisted us on a careful selection of the stones.”

The kitchen cupboards were painted turquoise to pick up the colour from the terrazzo slabs.

Find out more about House P ›


This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

Reference