zooco estudio wraps restaurant inside in spain with clay scales and semi-transparent pipes

zooco estudio designs warm, underwater-inspired restaurant 

boasting beautiful views of la segunda beach in santander, spain, the ‘el camino’ restaurant by zooco estudio generates a relaxed, warm interior with a sea-inspired character. since the asian eatery focuses on raw fish dishes, the architects developed a design language that reminds guests of the marine world through abstract shapes and textures. perhaps the most distinctive element of the restaurant is its walls, composed of semi-transparent panels and reddish clay scales, infusing the environment with underwater references.

all images by imagen subliminal

curved geometries reference the swell of the ocean

the restaurant is located within the sardinero region in santander, one of the most emblematic areas of the city, where the sea emerges as the main character. with this context in mind, zooco estudio proposed a design that brings the undersea world to the restaurant. avoiding certain cliché ideas, the architects introduced a visual abstraction that is realized through a variety of shapes and textures. 

all this translates into a curved geometry that references the swell of the ocean and is arranged in three different bands. the lower band incorporates all the circular benches of the restaurant and the bar which is shaped as a hard and resistant intermediate band that is attached to the walls. meanwhile, the upper band houses the ambient lighting of the room as well as the overbar.

a palette of warm colors and textures

the team at zooco atelier has formed a timeless palette of warm colors and textures such as wood and clay, which respond to the asian (japanese) character of the restaurant. from bottom to top, the designers used textures and geometries referring to images of the underwater world. the clay scales resemble the texture of fish skin, while the plastic cylinders are transparent and reflective, representing the way that the water glitters under the sun. the floors are covered in terrazzo, matching the idea of sand completing the beach-like setting.