Project name: NOTO Restaurant
Interior design: ULA Studio
Design Team: Aliaksandra Bialkova, Julia Kopper, Sergey Matushov
Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Photo: Olga Melekestseva
Area: 240 sq. m
Year: 2023
Project description from design firms ULA Studio
Located in one of the most prestigious areas of St. Petersburg, in the heart of the Petrograd Side, Noto Restaurant offers a unique atmosphere that combines the refinement of minimalism, the elegance of noble materials, and ethnic echoes of a hot Sicilian city.
Architecture
The architects inherited a truly unique space in a newly built premium-class residential complex: a hall with seven-meter ceilings and double-height windows. The venue has two entrances: the main one — from the embankment at ground level, and an additional one — from the landscaped podium with walking areas.
The idea of adding a second floor at the podium level came naturally. According to the client’s request, the kitchen had to be located on the first floor — for convenient loading and unloading of products. Therefore, the main dining hall was logically placed above, on the second floor. A striking staircase links the two levels, inviting guests upstairs. The double-height space fills the interior with light and air, while private zones create a sense of intimacy and ease.
On the first floor, in addition to the kitchen, there is a welcoming bar area with waiting tables and a VIP room. The second floor is defined by smooth, flowing lines that merge into one another and integrate harmoniously into the overall space.
A special accent of the second floor is the panoramic windows: they open breathtaking views of the embankment and Admiral Lazarev Bridge, making the cityscape an integral part of the interior.
Interior
The uniqueness of the interior also lies in its original interpretation of the symbols of an Italian city. The carved wooden facades of the sideboards tell its story, while in the private area on the ground floor, a luminous triptych panel imitates the vaulted windows of Catholic cathedrals.
The multifaceted identity of Noto is reflected even in the choice of finishing materials: warm oak in the flooring and wall panels, and heavy draperies in rich terracotta tones evoke associations with a hot climate, clay, sun, and the masculine principle. By contrast, pearl-colored natural stone, stainless steel, and decorative elements in the form of giant suspended mobiles (inspired by the iridescent fruits of the rare Lunaria plant native to Italy) symbolize the moon and the feminine principle.
Special attention is drawn to a set of custom-made steel light fixtures, communal quartzite tables, and intricately carved sideboards serving as waiter stations. All of these elements were designed exclusively for the project and stand out for their perfectly balanced proportions.
Filled with natural light in the morning, immersed in a whimsical graphic play of shadows from the shutters at noon, and opening up to the best panoramic views of the sunset city in the evening, Noto was conceived to immerse its guests in an atmosphere of refined aesthetics and pleasure.
