RZAPS (Ricardo Zurita Architecture & Planning, P.C.)

Located in the Time Square District of New York City, the large Italian restaurant occupies the lower 2 floors and cellar of a 5-story building.

The ground floor contains a bar and a cafe with a dining area in the rear. Over the bar the ceiling is open to the floor above. The upstairs, reached via an existing staircase that was altered, is a lounge with a bar and an additional dining space in the rear. Service spaces, including the kitchen are located in the cellar.

The rustic qualities that are typically associated with the notion of a “trattoria” are in part also derived from the inherent character of the existing building, including tall ceilings and rough brick walls. Some of the existing building elements, like the brick and cast iron storefront, had been embedded and were revealed during the construction process. These existing elements and qualities were merged with new materials that were selected for their ability to age beautifully and be easy to maintain.