The Zmianatematu restaurant is located in the Polish city of Lodz. Often described as the “Manchester” of Poland, the area was once the country’s industrial centre and remains a city with a rich cultural life.
It was here that the owners of Zmianatematu wanted to create a distinctive venue that could host art events, exhibitions and other happenings. They entrusted the project to xm3, a Warsaw-based team of designers.
The building that houses Zmianatematu is a typical 19th-century neoclassical structure. The design was inspired by the approach of Office dA’s designs for the Banq restaurant in Boston. With industrial touches and a lively, urban décor, the designers created a distinctive, characterful space that recalls a “wooden cave”, despite a limited budget.
The design is dominated by curved plywood surfaces, which give both the ceiling and the bar counter a fluid, flowing feel.
Lamps suspended from the ceiling, together with exposed piping and untreated plaster and concrete surfaces on the walls and floor, shape the “industrial” feel of the space.
Shelves for the bar’s drinks have been set between the layers of wood.
The tables are also of interest: glass tops that “rest” on an undulating lattice of plywood.
Text: Natasa Lianopoulou
