Within the food world, Jeremiah Stone & Fabian Von Hauske, need no introduction. The duo has recently teamed up with Neapolitan pizza specialist Anthony Mangieri to open this pizzeria in New York’s Lower East Side, designed by Jordan Maisie.
The primary design challenge for UNA Pizza Napoletana, was to create a singular cohesive space that represented two distinct identities, both culinary and aesthetic.
Materially, one side of the restaurant sets the other side off (this is true as much for the culinary experience as the spatial one). ¾” matte black penny rounds rally across the South wall and floor surfaces forming a black mass, an ebony stained Oakwood banquette sits sandwiched between the dark tile and long crisp white lighting cove carved out of the wall. An oversized off-white floor tile and ¾” French-vanilla penny rounds create the opposing interior identity; fusing the light, bright interior surfaces, with the Calacatta Marble bar and service hub.
A dividing line – where dark palette meets light – leads you to an aperture into the temperature controlled dough room. A perforated metal mesh screen pairs this view, with that of the pizza counter – where a carefully constructed choreography takes place.
Site-lines are curated to frame activity and emphasize the artisanal quality driving the culinary experience. But the artisanal elements are not limited to the cuisine, all furniture has been custom designed as an aggregate of Deco elegance and raw robust Industrialism. The chairs and stools were designed especially for UNA; the metal work is clear-coated cold roll steel, rather than brass. The seating is playful and geometric with splashes of vibrant jade upholstery.
The oven boasts a custom mosaic UNA artwork. The interplay of custom lighting elements and the layering of materials produce depth. Warmth is created by the alternating orientation of the Birch foot and backrests, creating a syncopated rhythm across the space. The restaurant floor is punctuated by the dotting of Sapele hardwood table-tops.
Each element holds the mark of the piece’s maker, the steel bar and shelving were made in Memphis, the chair + stool pairing, in Pittsburg, the metal mesh screen, banquette and table tops, in Brooklyn. The resulting design is one focused on craft, depth, vibrancy and material play.