Interior designer Isern Serra has unveiled the first flagship store for RELLENO, a Madrid-based filled-pasta brand, in Barcelona's trendy Eixample district. The innovative restaurant design transforms the brand's digital identity into a physical space through a sophisticated vocabulary of textures and reflective materials. This marks a significant milestone for RELLENO as it transitions from a primarily delivery-focused business to creating immersive physical dining experiences.
The design centers around a unique system of soft modules called "rellenos," which means "fillings" in Spanish. These foam-filled cushions are wrapped in sustainable metallic Italian fabric and arranged throughout the space in a geometric grid pattern. Each element reflects the restaurant's core concept - the art of filling and enclosing something within. The modules create both a tactile and immersive environment that directly connects to the brand's filled-pasta offerings.
Serra's design approach emphasizes a controlled palette that expresses RELLENO's sophisticated and design-focused identity. The metallic fabric of the rellenos shimmers under soft, adjustable lighting, creating a subtle interplay between surface textures and ambient glow. Stainless steel counters, mirror-clad pillars, and strategic orange reflections throughout the space reinforce a sense of precision and careful attention to detail. The neutral framework allows the brand's distinctive packaging and pasta products to stand out visually, similar to how high-end fashion houses display their garments in spare, luminous retail environments.
The two-level restaurant layout carefully balances automated efficiency with human interaction. The ground floor features a dramatic five-meter ceiling height, with digital ordering kiosks positioned on one side and a stainless steel service counter staffed by employees on the other. An Inox lamp by MLK Furniture hangs prominently within the vertical space, serving as a suspended focal point. Moving deeper into the restaurant, the ceiling height drops to a more intimate three meters, enveloping visitors within the signature relleno grid system.
Functional elements throughout the space extend the visual language of "filling" into practical applications. Seating poufs and a product dispenser wall are crafted from the same metallic fabric used in the decorative modules. The numbered pickup slots seamlessly integrate technology with craftsmanship, presenting each pasta dish as both a designed object and a meal. This approach reinforces the brand's commitment to elevating fast-casual dining through thoughtful design.
Lighting plays a crucial role in defining the restaurant's atmosphere, working in harmony with the carefully selected materials. The neutral base elements are illuminated by the reflective qualities of the metallic fabric and RGB lighting fixtures that primarily flood the space in orange, RELLENO's signature brand color. The lighting system can shift hues to accommodate special collaborations or events, amplifying the restaurant's chromatic identity and creating dynamic visual experiences throughout the day.
The upper level expands on the metallic grid concept through custom seating solutions and specialized furniture pieces. A custom sofa wraps around the perimeter of the space, its metallic surface creating visual continuity with the ceiling grid above. Circular stainless steel tables and stools, also designed by MLK Furniture, are strategically placed throughout the room. A mirrored wall and stainless steel-clad central pillar multiply reflections throughout the space, creating seamless continuity between materials, light, and movement. This comprehensive design approach successfully translates RELLENO's filled-pasta concept into a cohesive architectural language that enhances the dining experience while reinforcing the brand's innovative identity.
