FARAGO _2013 | suto interior architecs

FARAGO Pintxoclub - Paris, France

interior design: suto interior architects 

www.suto.hu

sqm: 130 m2

built in 2014

photos: zsolt batar

In Paris’s 10th district, a little cobblestone street that bears the picturesque name of „Cour des Petites Ecuries” (meaning literally: yard of small stables) runs through the area between Fabourg-Saint-Denis and Rue d'Enghien. Until the end of the 18th century, stables of kings and noblemen lined this street; today it is an interesting multi-cultural neighborhood with a dozen charming restaurants, bars and cafes. About halfway down, the little street takes a sharp curve, and on this very corner stands a typical Parisian apartment building with narrow French balconies. For a long time there was a Madagascan restaurant on the ground floor, but recently a tapas bar named FARAGO Pintxoclub has opened there. The interior design for this new tapas bar was done by two Hungarians:  Kata and Laszlo Suto  / Suto Interior Architects/

In addition to taking advantage of the location’s basic attributes (a corner building, spectacular metallic storefront with huge windows) the designers based their concept on the food:  Farago Pintxoclub offers fusion cuisine that blends Spanish tapas with the similar Basque pincho / pintxo culture - done with French ease by a real star chef, the Bilbao-born Fernando Canale. The tapas bars of sunny Spain are places for social gatherings, they are usually small and the "socio-cultural factors" are important. These social and gastronomic characteristics shaped the FARAGO Pintxoclub image. The designers used a blend of Mediterranean home interiors and industrial city culture to create a unique atmosphere in the 86 square meter bar. The custom-made furnishings, the pendants over the counter reminiscent of old tungsten lights,  wall paneling made of raw MDF sheets , visible screws and the handwriting on the walls– all contribute to the cozy atmosphere. While at the same time, the industrial character is also delightfully enhanced through a combination of antiqued gold and deep gray-black colors on tight, iconic pieces, such as Tom Dixon’s Gem pendants, Diesel wall lights by Foscarini, BCN Wood Base Barstools by Kristalia, and the use of PVC or subway tiling. 

The window benches, wooden tables and sleek bar stools are all positioned either for gazing out the window (as in the original home of tapas) or to encourage spontaneous table gatherings.

A detail making great use of space and function is the open kitchen where guests can see across counters into the kitchen area and feel like insiders at FARAGO.  Looking into the kitchen through the glass window one can even learn the secrets of Farago’s delicious specialties prepared from tender Landes duck. Having eaten the delicious dishes, while the chalk inscription above the kitchen door says „do not kiss the chef”; enthusiastic guests can leave their greetings and comments in chalk on blackboard painted walls in the subway-tiled washrooms.