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Cosetta

Studio UNLTD

SAVE SUBMISSION
Bronze
Main dining room and bar featuring a modern take on the classic Italian motif of repeating arches and colonnades. - Tanveer Badal
Back bar and kitchen pass.  The columns of the arches rise up the wall then vault over to delicately drop partially over the counter, punctuated at their truncated ends with glowing globes of light. - Tanveer Badal
Lighting Design: a soft glow of light emanates from behind banquettes and washes across the ceiling;  layers of light add depth and drama to the dining room by highlighting rich wall textures like plaster and limewashed brick. - Tanveer Badal
Main dining room and bar featuring a modern take on the classic Italian motif of repeating arches and colonnades. - Tanveer Badal

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Restaurant
6.38
6.69
6.44
6.63
6.53
Judith Haase
Judith Haase Architect at Gonzalez Haase AAS
7
6
7
7
6.75
Jelle Sapulete
Jelle Sapulete Design Director at Adidas
6
6
7
5
6
alberto caiola
alberto caiola Design Director at Alberto Caiola Studio
6
6
7
8
6.75
Justin Bridgland
Justin Bridgland Founding Partner at More Design Office
Concrete looks great, and space has...
6
4
6
7
5.75
Florian Seidl
Florian Seidl Design Manager at Lavazza
Quite different from your average s...
7
4
7
5
5.75
Royce Epstein
Royce Epstein Design Director at Mohawk Group
Not understanding how this function...
5
4
6
3
4.5
darren nolan
darren nolan Associate at Peter Marino Architect
7
7
7
5
6.5
Tetsuya Matsumoto
Tetsuya Matsumoto Head Architect at KTX archiLAB
6
5
6
5
5.5
Shannon Pringle
Shannon Pringle Interior Designer at Bernardon
6
3
6
8
5.75
Julie Payette
Julie Payette Cofounder and Partner at v2com newswire
Like the rawness of the walls and t...
7
6
7
6
6.5
Matteo Renna
Matteo Renna Founder at matteorenna | studio
7
5
7
6
6.25
Simona Franci
Simona Franci Principal and Design Director at Fortebis
The space is interesting but does n...
6
4
6
4
5
P.C.Ee
P.C.Ee Editor & Creative Director at industry+
6
5
6
4
5.25
Jaycee Chui
Jaycee Chui Founding partner at More design office
6
5
6
5
5.5
Client
Zach Pollack
Floor area
223 ㎡
Completion
2025
Budget
2,049,250 pounds
Social Media
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Finishes
Finishes
Finishes
Furniture
Furniture
Accessories
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture

While the neighborhood surrounding Cosetta has seen growth and is buzzing with residential and tech office tenants, the vacant, somewhat dated brick building located in a corporate business park felt out of place in sunny, wellness-obsessed Santa Monica. Studio UNLTD set out to tackle this challenge by transforming the space into one that aligns with the needs and character of the community by inviting an exchange between the tranquility of nature and the architecture of the interior. To achieve this, the design interprets the aspirational lifestyle of the Italian kitchen garden through the lens of a forward-looking, modern aesthetic where the transition between indoors and out is softened, and materiality and forms are approachable yet elevated.

Upon entry, one is met with a modern take on the classic Italian motif of repeating arches and colonnades. Taking advantage of the increased ceiling height over the bar area, the arches create a dramatic spatial moment with an end-view perspective in which the arches seem to repeat infinitely in back-painted glass. At the back bar, the columns of the arches rise up the wall then vault over to delicately drop partially over the counter.

Chef Zack Pollack had a clear vision of having the restaurant seamlessly extend from the dining room onto the patio, and the entire dining room is set against a wall of glazing keeping an open view to the patio. Windows are also operable, allowing the flow of energy and aromas from inside to outside. Because the majority of seating for the restaurant is actually outside, the patio assumes an especially important role as an extension of the dining room. Varied loose and built-in seating areas are nestled between a network of curved Corten steel planters lush with greenery. Natural materials like the white brick of the built-in dining benches and the custom tabletops create a neutral palette. Seating, including an outdoor PDR and firepit lounge, feature rust and deep green pillows, extending the colors from the interior to the outside and connecting the aesthetics of the garden to the interior.

The color palette of the MDR is rooted in earthy, muted tones found in Mediterranean regions such as the rust red color of the marble bar top, the deep green of the back bar and arches, and the sandy and peachy hues of the walls and ceiling of the dining room. Warm wood tones dominate the furniture, with custom booths and banquettes featuring plush fir green leather and antique rose-colored upholstery. A soft glow of light emanating from behind the banquette and booths washes across the ceiling, layers of light adding depth and drama to the dining room, highlighting rich wall textures like plaster and limewashed brick.

The design team did as little as possible to the existing structure, leaving the envelope largely intact, yet adding skylights to bring natural light to the MDR and adding an exterior shade structure.