CLIENT
GRUPO TAPEO
CREATIVE DIRECTION
OLGA PAJARES
COLLABORATIONS
MARTÍ CRISOL
ARTIST
CARME BALADA
AREA
135m2
PHOTOGRAPHY
MERITXELL ARJALAGUER
DELTA
Informal Rice Restaurant
Barcelona, 2025
THE CONTEXT
The ’tapas family’, Dani Rueda and Natalia Ferran, entrusted the studio with the opening of their new informal restaurant specialised in rices on Espartería Street in El Born, the bohemian heart of Barcelona. From the very first day, we were captivated by the architecture of the space: the vaulted ribbed ceiling between the arches was to become the perfect framework for the restaurant’s new elements. Everything was designed to respect the original architecture: the restrooms and back office were concealed within a mid-height oak volume, while the central exhaust pipe is discreetly wrapped in mirror sheets that reflect the ceiling and preserve the illusion of continuity of the vaults.
PHILOSOPHY AND MATERIALS
Communicating Dani Rueda’s culinary concept means respecting the product, his honesty and transparency. The open kitchen blurs the boundaries between the diner and cooking. Inspired by the ´Terres del Ebre´, (Ebre Lands) Delta breathes naturalness and tradition, by using materials such as mortar and lime paint, oak wood, and bush-hammered stone, all presented in a palette of light, warm tones. Both the continuous terrazzo flooring, with white gravel, and the paper lamps suspended above group tables subtly evoke the essence of rice.
CERAMICS AND FURNITURE
Delta Ricerie’s interior design pays tribute to the very product, from both a sensorial and symbolic perspective. Ceramic artist Carme Balada created a unique installation inspired by the husks that protect the rice grain. This subtle and organic piece, modelled using various clays, evokes the diversity, texture, and richness of this essential food.
In dialogue with this artistic intervention, the space is structured with custom-made furniture: solid oak tables and prolonged benches that add warmth and sobriety to the space. Contemporary design pieces are integrated, such as the Ramón chairs by Santa & Cole, the Betty chair by &Tradition, and the Hari stools by Ondarreta. The bar, crafted from bush-hammered natural stone, becomes a social hub, accompanied by Muuto tables and illuminated by the iconic TMM wall lights.
HONEST ATMOSPHERE
Warm lighting, with strategic points over the tables and designed in collaboration with Panaled, completes the project by offering a coherent, natural, and welcoming experience that reinforces Delta’s philosophy of honesty and closeness.
The result is a harmonious and functional ensemble, where art and design engage in dialogue to create a warm, honest, and contemporary atmosphere, perfectly in tune with the essence of the restaurant.
THE CONTEXT
The ’tapas family’, Dani Rueda and Natalia Ferran, entrusted the studio with the opening of their new informal restaurant specialised in rices on Espartería Street in El Born, the bohemian heart of Barcelona. From the very first day, we were captivated by the architecture of the space: the vaulted ribbed ceiling between the arches was to become the perfect framework for the restaurant’s new elements. Everything was designed to respect the original architecture: the restrooms and back office were concealed within a mid-height oak volume, while the central exhaust pipe is discreetly wrapped in mirror sheets that reflect the ceiling and preserve the illusion of continuity of the vaults.
PHILOSOPHY AND MATERIALS
Communicating Dani Rueda’s culinary concept means respecting the product, his honesty and transparency. The open kitchen blurs the boundaries between the diner and cooking. Inspired by the ´Terres del Ebre´, (Ebre Lands) Delta breathes naturalness and tradition, by using materials such as mortar and lime paint, oak wood, and bush-hammered stone, all presented in a palette of light, warm tones. Both the continuous terrazzo flooring, with white gravel, and the paper lamps suspended above group tables subtly evoke the essence of rice.
CERAMICS AND FURNITURE
Delta Ricerie’s interior design pays tribute to the very product, from both a sensorial and symbolic perspective. Ceramic artist Carme Balada created a unique installation inspired by the husks that protect the rice grain. This subtle and organic piece, modelled using various clays, evokes the diversity, texture, and richness of this essential food.
In dialogue with this artistic intervention, the space is structured with custom-made furniture: solid oak tables and prolonged benches that add warmth and sobriety to the space. Contemporary design pieces are integrated, such as the Ramón chairs by Santa & Cole, the Betty chair by &Tradition, and the Hari stools by Ondarreta. The bar, crafted from bush-hammered natural stone, becomes a social hub, accompanied by Muuto tables and illuminated by the iconic TMM wall lights.
HONEST ATMOSPHERE
Warm lighting, with strategic points over the tables and designed in collaboration with Panaled, completes the project by offering a coherent, natural, and welcoming experience that reinforces Delta’s philosophy of honesty and closeness.
The result is a harmonious and functional ensemble, where art and design engage in dialogue to create a warm, honest, and contemporary atmosphere, perfectly in tune with the essence of the restaurant.
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