Piza e Vino, an Italian pizzeria, falls under the Doppio Zero Group founded by entrepreneurial partners, Paul Christie and Miki Milovanovic. The duo wanted to reinvigorate the Piza e Vino brand by creating a restaurant interior that was in line with the company’s newly refined logo that emphasises the “handmade” aspect of the traditional pizzas for which Piza e Vino is known. Christie and Milovanovic briefed Inhouse Brand Architects to come up with an interior scheme for a brand-new Piza e Vino outlet within the newly added extension to the Lynnridge Mall in Lynnwood, Pretoria.

Inhouse was responsible for establishing Piza e Vino and its brand in the new space, working with the architects and construction team from the ground up. Inhouse took inspiration for the project from a diversity of vintage influences, particularly old-school pizzerias. Nostalgia plays a role in the restaurant’s finishes, which are a blend of patterned and subway tiles, polished concrete flooring, light oak dining tables, light coloured marble counter tops, real leather upholstered booths, leather seating with brass buckles and strapping details, and reclaimed timber cladding. These all give the space an authentic atmosphere, while making the dining areas warm and inviting.

In addition to the sense of nostalgia, the concept of “handmade” was critical in the design scheme, with the intention of emphasising that Piza e Vino’s pizzas are created by hand by real people for real people. This concept is reinforced by the choice to place a completely open kitchen in the heart of the space. A grand, custom-designed pizza oven is the focal point, here. The oven is large and hexagonal, tiled in geometrics, and quietly dominates any view of the restaurant. The oven is fronted by a pizza bar where diners can take in a “master class” of the chefs at work and children can create their own pizzas.

Just beyond the kitchen, a custom-built steel screen encompasses the central booth seating. This unique room divider is adorned with over 100 wooden rolling pins, paying tribute to the craft of hand rolled pizza dough, and once again, emphasising Piza e Vino’s artisanal offering… The lighting further accentuates the handmade inspiration and authenticity of the space. Glass blown pendants with brass fittings and vintage wall sconces with amber tinted glass generate a welcoming, intimate atmosphere. All in all, the finished look gives life to the new brand, successfully managing to create the sense of a traditional, rustic pizzeria in the heart of Pretoria.

Design: Inhouse Brand Architects