Riccio

Riccio Cucina Artigianale is an artisanal Italian kitchen with elements of a bakery and restaurant. With no tables and few stools, the Superlimão project aimed to create a pleasant environment for a coffee or a quick meal, while customers observe the small and careful details of the architecture, which blends the old with the new. Located in Vila Nova Conceição, the 85m² property that houses Riccio is an old structural masonry house. The project took advantage of the existing construction, keeping the exposed brick on the facade and exposing the structural reinforcements of the central pillar that, together with the new metal structure, create a contrast with the old masonry. The facade's portico, in a metal structure painted orange, has sliding doors on independent tracks that allow the space to be almost completely opened. This element contrasts with the green applied to the old peeling bricks, and has a display case with bread shelves and a retractable bench. Upon entering the space, the layout prioritizes the service counter with products displayed in the display cases and refrigerators. All production is done daily on the upper floor, where it is possible to peek out from the kitchen onto the sidewalk. The counter is the main feature. For its design and execution, noble materials were chosen and applied in a relaxed manner, such as oxidized and pleated brass, which references a candy mold. On the ground floor, a shelf made of perforated sheet metal and rebar – originally made from an old wooden door that was going to be discarded from a construction site – forms the boundary between the service counter and the stairs leading to the kitchen. The floor made of broken marble with terrazzo grout was reused, with the idea of bringing a reference to the sidewalks of Rome into the space. In the bathroom, the project played with the meaning of the word ‘Riccio’, which in Italian means ‘porcupine’. A ceiling made of spines was created, like a giant porcupine inhabiting the bathroom. This ceiling is made up of pegs of different heights with backlighting, which reference the rounded shape of the porcupine's back. On the balcony of the upper floor, where the kitchen is located, a landscaping tower was created to plant the herbs and spices used in the locally produced recipes. This tower, together with the kitchen, can be seen from the outside, bringing the artisanal production closer to the customers who visit the space.