Basilicata

Born in the Basilicata region of Italy, Filippo Ponzio brought to Brazil over 100 years ago the recipe for a bread that would become one of the most famous in São Paulo: Basilicata Italian bread. Since then, the traditional bakery has been at the heart of Bixiga. And it will continue to be so, but in a new venture. Now customers have access to the new environment: Basilicata – Bread, Grocery and Restaurant. Designed by Superlimão, the atmosphere is one of immersion in the history of Italian immigration: old scales, the “pendura” (where bills were literally hung), handwritten posters and photographs that tell the story of the family that left southern Italy. The building was restored to accommodate the new venture. With two floors, the grocery and bakery are on the lower floor and the restaurant on the upper floor. The idea behind the project was to rescue memories while maintaining tradition through the architecture, respecting the original features of the building. And, at the same time, seeking open spaces for the new service areas. Passing through the entrance, the space opens up into a store with elaborate details that gradually tell the family's story, without losing its essence. Bread trays displaying products are fixed to metal structures that recall the original iron supports made by the family's blacksmiths; next to the cash registers, a cork panel houses a map of Italy drawn with wool threads and recalls a moment from the beginning of this story: it is said that, as the ship was leaving the port, the immigrant carried one end of a ball of wool and the family members on land held the other end in the hope of one day being able to join the two ends. Still at the entrance, on the left, a provolone cutting table marks the passage to the other room and holds a variety of olive oils and cheeses. This area contains the refrigerated products section of the store, which, in addition to the stainless steel refrigerators, are housed in a family biscuit cabinet and on tables designed especially for the project. During the construction, frescoes from the early 20th century were discovered on these walls and have been preserved. The ceiling was made using the shovels used to bake bread. Hanging under the slab, they form a kind of acoustic baffles that diffuse the light. A large counter and bistro tables will be available for quick snacks on the lower floor. Right on the corner of these counters, and right in front of the Basilicata entrance, the counter purposely holds bread, as it is the restaurant's flagship product. Walking through this floor, a grocery store with products is available for customers who want to take home market items. When going out to the outside area, three coconut trees were kept and tables were set up to receive customers. The details of all these stories are in the ambiance of the spaces with pieces inherited from all generations. Among them are the doors of the wood-fired ovens forged by the family's blacksmiths, tools such as an anvil, scales, grates made from the ashes of the ovens transformed into balusters in the open space on the second floor, and even some personal objects, such as a notebook, glasses, bills and coins. On the upper floor is the new addition, the restaurant. It is there that chef Rafael Lorenti proves that Italian cuisine is in his DNA and prepares a menu typically from southern Italy, with around 30 options of dishes. To reach the second floor, the existing staircase was renovated and adapted to new standards. An elevator was also installed to ensure accessibility for all customers. With no walls, the upper room accommodates chairs, tables and a sofa designed by Superlimão. The sofa seat also refers to a family moment after World War II, when the government rationed products such as flour and sugar. Once, when receiving government inspectors at their home, the family made a bed in the corner of the room with sacks of flour covered by a quilt. Above the sofa, industrial lamps directly illuminate each table. Original wooden French doors lead to a balcony that is essential for the ventilation of the space. In the roof, with fiber cement tiles, slits were made to create a series of skylights. On the walls, the paints chosen refer to the colors of Italy, but in soft tones. In addition to green, red and white, other colors are present, such as yellow and blue.