The Lamì restaurant and lounge bar in San Severo in the province of Foggia forms part of the La Torre Petroli & Padel service area, the first major gas station in Puglia encountered by motorists arriving from northern Italy. According to Cinzia Notarsanto from the practice Area Idea tasked with designing the venue, “Our goal was to create an eclectic space where round and square shapes could coexist harmoniously, allowing creativity to flourish while avoiding a confusing clutter of elements and colours.”
The restaurant, a spacious venue with a contemporary aesthetic, emerged from the collaboration between Area Idea, led by architect Giuseppe Toma, and the owners.
“One of the restaurant’s main aesthetic strengths is its unique ambience, divided up only by a few see-through structures and ceilings that demarcate separate areas for the pizzeria, restaurant, wine bar, main bar and lounge bar,” says Cinzia Notarsanto. “The location stands out for its rich variety of colours and details, with harmonious two-tone marble-effect floors, floral-wallpapered ceilings and walls, and plush velvet sofas and chairs. The visual impact upon entering is immediate and striking. However, attention to sustainability has not been neglected, as evidenced by the use of a variety of eco-friendly materials.”
The choice of the Anima Ever tile collection from Ceramiche Caesar, a highly versatile marble-effect porcelain available in six colours, six sizes and three finishes, played a key role in defining the overall aesthetic. Two versions were used for the dining area and bathroom floors: Luxury Arabesque, a white tile with intertwined grey veins inspired by a prestigious Tuscan marble, and Sage Green, with a livelier character reminiscent of Brazilian marble. “These choices were driven by the desire to create a luxurious environment that would integrate harmoniously with the other elements,” continues Cinzia Notarsanto. “By alternating the two types of flooring, Giuseppe Toma designed separate spaces that coordinate with the patterns and the design of the furniture created by graphic designer Luca Notarsanto.” The choice of materials clearly plays a major role in defining the venue’s highly distinctive identity.
