LE BOTECO

« between Switzerland and Brazil” makeover of a restaurant in Geneva

As part of a change of owner, a makeover was needed for this restaurant which had probably never undergone any modifications since the 70s. The client's wish was to create a friendly and warm atmosphere like the dishes offered. , a fusion cuisine to taste in the form of tartars and tapas. The challenge was to succeed in creating a universe completely different from the old one, while retaining most of the existing furniture and elements for the sake of economy.

Colors and light are the main tools of this transformation. The composition is created with a rather dark but deep color palette, green, blue, anthracite, highlighted by touches of brass and very bright pink-orange. They warm the atmosphere while clarifying the interpretation of the various areas of the restaurant. In the same vein, the furniture is reorganized in a more rational way and some joinery elements are removed. These elements, all in dark wood and rather worn, are painted partially in anthracite to bring a more contemporary touch to the place. The existing chairs and benches are re-upholstered with patterned fabric or blue-green velvet to give them a new lease of life. The bar is stripped of its old wooden hat and re-styled with a much lighter black and brass metal structure. A staircase and a corridor treated all in green lead to the sanitary area. Along the way, an existing wall originally covered with a beige carpet, receives a fabric with the same patterns as that used for the upholstery of the chairs. Against this tropical background, the toilets appear in bright pink-orange. A colorful and slightly offbeat side is provided by various posters and objects reminiscent of the chef's Brazilian origins.

photos : Irina Popa

PHOTOS BEFORE TRANSFORMATION