Compartir Restaurant, located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, is a contemporary interpretation of the Mediterranean town of Cadaqués, the birthplace of Salvador Dali. Designed by El Equipo Creativo, the restaurant’s interior design aims to recreate the town’s characteristic and artsy spirit but with a modern twist.
The restaurant’s owners wanted to bring the essence of Cadaqués, where they had opened their first restaurant, to a new gastronomic concept in Barcelona. The design team took inspiration from the slate roads, blue-framed windows looking out to the sea, vessels rocking on the bay, and wicker craftsmanship that is part of the artsy spirit of the town.
The restaurant’s classic venue features a spectacular steel structure dating back to the beginning of the past century. El Equipo Creativo imagined the design as an ample white space presided by three blue abstract ‘windows’ towards the Mediterranean Sea: one sculptural, one pictorial, and one textile window. Each of these ‘windows’ became an opportunity to collaborate with a different local artist, creating custom-made pieces for the restaurant.
The curved shapes of mirrors and wicker dividers bring a warm counterpoint to the white space, converted into lamps of warm light scattered along the space, and bringing privacy to the tables, one of the client’s priorities. They recreate an abstract landscape of sails and vessels, referencing the bay of Cadaqués.
Bars and kitchens have simple and bold shapes while they perform as energy nodes activating the different areas of the restaurant. The design team looked for a warm, light materiality with a Mediterranean touch, translated into warm-white textured surfaces and a general handmade touch. Different natural materials connect the space to the architectural landscape of Cadaqués. The grey tone of the slate stone and its application in ‘trencadís’ (a traditional Mediterranean technique), together with the natural terracotta tile colour create a powerful set that can be read in almost pictorial terms. This creates a stunning contrast to the abstract and intense blue of the windows.
El Equipo Creativo was committed to using 100 percent local materials and products, as well as collaborating with local artists and artisans to create custom-made pieces for the restaurant.
Compartir Restaurant in Barcelona is a contemporary interpretation of Cadaqués, created by El Equipo Creativo. The warm, light materiality and Mediterranean touch translate into warm-white textured surfaces and a general handmade touch. The design team used local materials and products, as well as collaborated with local artists and artisans to create custom-made pieces for the restaurant. The result is a powerful set that can be read in almost pictorial terms, a perfect blend of art and gastronomy.