Bar Ragazzi is located in the right wing of Hala Koszyki. Its interior is an example of how 28 square metres can delight with a design narrative and create a welcoming atmosphere. The design by the team from Studio Public – Mikołaj Wojciechowski, Maciej Granecki and Maciej Kuratczyk – was created in a cut-out of the Zachodni Brzeg restaurant operating next door and was realised in collaboration with owners Karol Szafraniec and Bartek Serdakowski.
The interior works in a similar way to a typical Italian bar, where quick cicchetti snacks are served during the day and aperitif meetings are held in the evening. The main axis of the design is the bar treated as a foreground actor. The design refers to classic Italian bar solutions through the wooden front, the steel plinth, the mirrored detailing and the tabletop. These recognisable elements create a reference point and at the same time a contrast to the bolder treatments that define the character of the place.
Neon ribbon as leitmotif
A wooden drinks shelf surrounds the premises, above and below which a fanciful neon ribbon extends. This luminous motif recurs in Studio Public’s realisations and acts as a guiding light, giving the interior a rhythm and identity. The neon guides the eye, unifies the space and gives a small area a theatrical depth.
Materials and details
The details in Bar Ragazzi are both simple and extremely expressive. The table tops were made from cut pieces of Carrara in a way that responds to the dynamics of neon. Vintage hockers from the period, supplied by Krześlarz, found their way into the premises, and the existing patterned floor together with a chandelier found in an antique market completed the composition. The secondary use of furnishings is a motif characteristic of the studio, here used with the greatest freedom and flair.
Small, big atmosphere
Behind the bar counter is Vladislav Sivak, whose cocktails match the tone of the place and emphasise the Italian atmosphere. The West Bank kitchen prepares Italian-style snacks, which allows for a coherent gastronomic offering despite the small space. The effect is that even a chilly autumn evening on Koszykowa begins to resemble the vibrant south of Europe.
Bar Ragazzi is proof that good design is not just about square footage, but decisions about rhythm, material and detail. Studio Public confirms that a limited space can become a field for an intense, kinesthetic story about place and people. An interior has been created on Koszykowa Street that invites a quick meeting or a longer celebration of each day.
Design: Studio Public
Photos: Maja Bułkowska
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