Bogen the flower bistro poised between historical legacy and contemporary finesse

"An old barrel-vaulted store hides under the dust of history alongside one of the oldest streets in mercantile Bolzano" (noa*). The old two-level building called "Haus am Gang" breathes new life with the design for the Bogen bistro with floral and bohemian atmospheres

The Mayr family, the current owners of the building, commissioned studio noa* - network of architecture with the restoration of the historic part and the design of the new use of the street level, the Bogen bistro. In the interior design, the idea was to emphasize the four arches that on both sides rhythm the almost 19-meter depth of the restaurant. The desire on the part of customers for a venue with a romantic and bohemian style, as well as the manual and artistic skills of Roswitha Mayr, the hostess, who wanted to add a personal touch to the ambience, were the points on which noa* structured the design

Around a floral motif, the pivotal element of the interior is created in the central space: a cozy 7-meter-long counter arranged under a ceiling of flower baskets.
"The flowered vault immediately established itself as the centerpiece of the interior design. The upside-down baskets filled with dried flowers are an evocative image that summarizes the transience but at the same time the beauty of flowing life" (Silvia Marzani, interior designer at noa*).
The participatory space of the large counter is contrasted by the intimacy of the small tables arranged along the left side of the bistro, sheltered by the arches and overlooking the alley outside

The feeling of privacy is further enhanced between the first pair of arches, where the walls are covered in a fabric with a refined floral print and the seating is carved out of the wall recesses. The niche enclosing the room is designed in the same way. In a continuous dialogue between past and present, noa* also decided to alternate new wood and fabric pieces with repainted vintage chairs for the chairs

Already at the entrance, the pre-existing interior height difference is solved with an oak platform; for the flooring then a gray-beige grained screed is chosen that does not create a strong chromatic detachment from the walls. Lighting is worked on the latter, preferring spotlights that gently enhance the curves of the arches to punctual lighting of the tables. Except for the two tables in the final part, there are no single pendants, and the additional lighting is solved with standing lamps

There are two service areas: the kitchen, which has been entirely renovated and built in the final part of the restaurant, and the bathrooms. These have been grouped in a space that also becomes a furnishing element: a perfect prism made of perforated metal sheet, on which is printed the same floral motif that adorns the arches. In this way, the technical requirements of acoustics are combined with the aesthetics of the room: the sound-insulating panels are hidden beneath the perforated metal surface