The restaurant pizzeria Oi Marì is located in the heart of the "sassi of Matera.” It is divided into different environments dug into the limestone, each with a different shape due to conformation of the cave created by man over the centuries. Originally, new spaces within the cave were created through subtraction, adding to the existing living spaces by removing material from the mother block of calcarenite rock.

We like to think that those who created the so-called Sassi rather than add, subtracted matter to achieve a goal. Also, from this assumption comes the intention of our and our client’s project.

Their request was to empty the old room of past trappings and to make the environment essential, just like their kitchen; while still honoring the history and traditions of the Neapolitan pizzeria.

This is where our inspiration comes from, design must respect the client’s desire, "remove, not add” to tread lightly with a few, weighted, essential elements that can be the of a renewal.

All the rooms are treated in the same way. The beauty of the cave has been enhanced, leaving the limestone completely exposed and introducing a few simple functional furnishings for use. All the furniture, the iron structures and the lights were entirely designed by the architects and crafted by local artisans.
The Framework chair by L'Abbate went along with the aesthetic and functional needs of the project, as the desire was to use a chair that could as much as possible have a light visual impact, with essential lines and that would make the place balanced and elegant. Without losing the materiality of the beech wood that with its color is well suited to the naturalness of the place.

The final result is the marriage between the old and the new, the desire not to make noise in a place that sometimes seems sacred, to respond with care and attention to the customer's request, giving him the convenience of working with a functional design and a warm and harmonious aesthetic.

ARCHITECT:
Manca Studio di Marina e Alfredo Manca, principals in charge
Marina de Pace, project architect

ENGINEERS:
Fluidotecnica Grandi Impianti