33 CITE , Cité Internationale, LYON – France

CLIENT : 33 Cité
LOCATION : Cité Internationale, LYON – France
PROGRAM : Restaurant Interior Design. Lounge and kitchen area design. Bespoke furniture
APPOINTMENT : Architect and Interior design
DATE : 2007

Urban environment
At the Cité Internationale by R.Piano in Lyon, at the ground floor of a building directly on the Piazza of the « Salle 3000 », a long rectangular space progressively revealed to views from the central pedestrian street, ends in a double height glazed volume, a special prancing in direct relationship with the public Piazza.

Red Ribbon
The nature of the space, natural lighting conditions, proportions between interior space and external public areas, call for one simple but strong gesture, capable to establish functional and spacial hierarchy of the different areas, allow diversity of ambiances within the same space whilst preserving the integrity of the space, perceived from any corner of the interior but also of the exterior as an un-fragmented whole.
The open kitchen is the origin of a “Ferrari red” ribbon that flows towards the main room, becomes a lighting ceiling, winds in a gentle helix like shape to offer a vertical (low) separation between the 17m long bar counter on one side and the restaurant lounge area on the other. When approaching the double height volume the red ribbon springs up in a winding movement wrapping in itself the stair leading to the mezzanine level which appears as an intimate space, enveloped in the same red ribbon where, with a privileged view onto the public Piazza.
The Red Ribbon is the “fil rouge” throughout the whole space.
A fluid, sinuous and un-interrupted feature.
It is the umbilical cord between the heart of the Chef’s creativity, the kitchen, and the customers’ tables.