Visibility and natural light were the two key objectives that architect Agnese Senerchia had to consider when approaching the Fusion 3.0 restaurant project in Lanciano, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The project was to provide an at-a-glance view of both the interior and exterior of the restaurant, as well as the kitchen area. Senerchia therefore opted for a series of large windows to open up the space to the outside while attracting the attention of passers-by.

To make it attractive but also welcoming, the architect opted for an industrial style décor for the interior space, with grey and white floors, exposed pipes and spotlights, and an iron wall-mounted wine rack that is somewhat reminiscent of Mondrian’s artworks thanks to its geometric features. To complete the perfect setting the customer had in mind, green tones and touches of gold were used.

The starting point for the Fusion 3.0 project was the need to create a versatile connection that would be capable of visually homogenising the different spaces, proposing a play of volumes that would characterise the entire interior space through horizontal and vertical planes in polychrome materials.

Walls and ceilings become scenic backdrops whose geometries, textures and colours have been designed to create the best possible emotional atmosphere. All colours, surfaces and materials were articulated in line with the architectural intentions, placing the users’ point of view at the centre, creating an identity and recognisability for them.

As a restaurant, and therefore a space subject to transit, wear and tear and intensive use, the material for the surfaces that would have to withstand all this work had to be carefully selected. And Senerchia was clear about this.

“Cosentino offers cutting-edge products designed to provide innovative and functional solutions based on careful design, innovation and respect for the environment. Silestone Ethereal Glow, a surface composed of minerals and recycled materials, provided chromatic depth and high resistance. The choice of material and colour were distinctive elements that added quality, originality and creativity to the project.”

The chosen colour resulted in beautiful unique surfaces, enhancing and shaping them, making them attractive and outlining the most important areas to underline functions and routes, in order to direct diners. Together with other aspects – installation, acoustics, lighting, air conditioning –, it ensures a general sense of well-being for guests.

Silestone Ethereal Glow creates subtle colour transitions and enhances the scenography of the entire environment. Its veins in elegant shades of gold and grey blend into a nuanced white background. “Technically, either by its nature or by a specific process, the material has a surface finish that requires no further treatment, as it has its own colour, character, texture and sheen. This choice of colour and material makes the chromatic and material component an important part of the architectural compositional language of the space.”

In addition, it is particularly suitable for this application where maximum hygiene and resistance to scratching and heat are essential in everyday life, as it allows direct contact with hot objects without altering the technical or aesthetic characteristics of the surface.