GRT Architects uses "riot" of materials for Bad Roman restaurant in New York

Dan Howarth | 25 June 2023 Leave a comment

Brooklyn studio GRT Architects has designed an Italian restaurant in New York City where a visual cacophony of colour, pattern and materials combine for a maximalist aesthetic.

Bad Roman is the latest venture from the hospitality group Quality Branded, for which GRT Architects previously completed the interiors for Michelin-starred Don Angie.

Boar sculpture on a patterned podium — Bad Roman guests are greeted by a sculpture of a boar raised on a patterned podium

Serving a "contemporary and whimsical" take on Italian cuisine, Bad Roman is located on the third level of a shopping centre in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, at the southwest corner of Central Park.

"Where The Shops at Columbus Circle are politely elegant, Bad Roman is a riot of rich and varied materials, textures, found objects, shapes and colour," said GRT Architects.

Bar clad in marble and glass stripes — The organically shaped bar is clad in stripes of marble and glass

The 6,500-square-foot (604-square-metre) space has an open layout so that diners can enjoy the view of the park through the glass facade.

To set the tone, guests are greeted by a sculpture of a boar, which is raised on a patterned podium and wears an illuminated collar.

Row of orange booth seating against a window — Booths lined up along the window feature stepped orange backs

A curved bar sits in the middle of the restaurant. A light box above is clad in stripes of marble, mirror and cast glass, and emits a soft glow onto the marble bar counter below.

Throughout the restaurant, a variety of booth seating arrangements are designed to accommodate parties of all sizes.

Column adorned with mirrors and blown-glass lighting — Blown-glass lighting, 19th-century sculptures and various decor elements are combined in the colourful space

The booths have fabric-wrapped cushioned backs with multiple panels at stepped heights, which form waves when placed side-by-side around the tables.

"We made these islands into worlds unto themselves, incorporating textured plaster cladding, assemblages of found objects and segmented upholstery in a family of orange fabrics," said the studio.

Dimly lit dining room with glass walls and bistro tables — Private dining rooms at the end of the restaurant each have a distinct design language

At one end of the 160-foot-long (49-metre) space are a pair of private dining rooms, while a fully glazed area is located at the other – each with a distinct design language.

Greenery spills from planters suspended from the coffered ceilings, and several different types of lighting help to set the mood.

The bright dining room is contrasted by dark and moody bathrooms, where a two-tiered, classical-style garden fountain sits on a mosaic basin at their entrance.

"Minimal it is not, but the design of Bad Roman is unified by a high level of handcraft, and a say-yes-to-all-beautiful-materials attitude," GRT Architects said.

Dark room with a classical-style fountain at the centre — A classical-style fountain is positioned at the entrance to the bathrooms

"Locally blown-glass light fixtures, trompe l'oeil mosaics, 19th-century fragments and intricate tilework all collude to create an exuberant home for Bad Roman's fresh take on modern Italian."

The studio was founded by Tal Schori and Rustam-Marc Mehta in 2014, and their team has since completed a variety of projects across the US.