Our clients, the second generation of a family of hoteliers from Mallorca, approach EL CREATIVO CREATIVO, with the idea of renovating their well-known restaurant, the Forn de Sant Joan, located in the Historic Center of Palma. Since the beginning, what most caught our attention was the historical and cultural value of the space. The restaurant is indeed located, in an old bakery, which still preserves the terracotta structure of its old oven, to which the restaurant’s name recalls.
The idea of the bakery became the «leitmotif» of the project, and the characteristic elements of the old bakeries in its common thread, which help us to design its different areas.
In the double-height entrance, the old wood oven with its natural terracotta walls can be found. Here, we wanted to highlight the «artisan» or the «handmade», like the bread in the old bakeries, the baskets where the bread was exposed, as well as other objects characteristic of this type of shops.
The entrance of the Forn de Sant Joan was designed with a more informal and quicker stay in mind, to grab a drink and eat some tapas. Therefore, the big cocktail counter made of roof tiles stands out and dominate the space thanks to its oversized wicker lamps and a copper rectangle hanging from the ceiling.
With this idea, large shelves full of ingredients, ceramic jugs, small objects, and craft tools recall the pantry of a bakery where something is always happening. They also help us create an image of closeness, love for quality and attention to details, which are part of the restaurant’s philosophy. The copper of the shelf works as a metaphor for fire and also reminds the traditional pots of the old kitchens. The bar built with original terracotta roof tiles and large basketry lamps complete the design of this area.
The main dining room of the restaurant is in a lower mezzanine, and in it, we wanted to highlight the idea of the artisanal, and especially the art of «basketry», common to all Mediterranean villages. This space becomes one of the most spectacular of the project, thanks to a new «woven» skin in the style of the old wicker baskets, which becomes the undisputed protagonist of the project. A wooden latticework built through overlapping layers rises from the ground and wraps the guests into this new texture, which seems to be still in the process of being developed, gradually fading.
The various levels and rooms of the restaurant have each one its own characteristics but the common denominator are the finish of the tables and the hue of the upholstery.
The reddish walls, the roof tiles table, the wicker or blue seating, and the mustard banquette create a harmonious and warm atmosphere and try to reproduce the homey feeling of walking into a bakery and smelling the delicious aroma of bread straight from the oven.
On the upper floor, partitions built with different types of glass and retro illuminated, generate cozy corners and create small private dining rooms.