Masquespacio is behind the first Piur restaurant in Valencia

Valencia’s Mercado Central is a large undercover marketplace designed in 1914 in the modernist style and inaugurated in 1928. This two-storey building of more 8000 square metres has an eclectic, predominantly Valencian Art Nouveau appearance. The roof’s domes and unique slopes admit pools of light inside, complementing the ornate and varied interior decor, adorned with iron columns, colourful ceramic tiling, and stained glass. The natural light that filters in through the roof and the coloured stained glass windows gives it a cathedral-like style.
The architects Alejandro Soler March and Francisco Guardia Vial won the competition with their project, which they changed at the request of the city council, and the market was built according to the new project of November 1914. The work was completed in 1928 by the architects Enrique Viedma and Angel Romani.
This majestic, prestigious architecture sets the scene for the latest project by the multidisciplinary design studio, Masquespacio. Piur is a Valencian restaurant chain that specialises in pizzas. Ana Hernández and Christophe Penasse first familiarised themselves with Piur’s branding strategy and their client’s fundamental values: an honest ethos towards diners and the use of fresh products. They also wanted Piur to be a place where diners would come to spend some happy time with family and friends. All of this gave the design duo the basis for their project, along with the fact that the restaurant’s founders are from Valencia.
So Masquespacio strived to craft a compelling concept hooking onto the Valencian origins of Piur with a venue that would be an attraction for visitors to the restaurant. The choice of the location was fundamental: the Mercado Central is not just one of the most relevant examples of Valencian Art Nouveau di Valencia, it’s also the best place for anyone looking to source high-quality natural products. 
As Ana Hernández, creative director at Masquespacio says: “We decided to pay a tribute to one of the most important buildings of our city.” Bespoke lighting fixtures create personalised corners in the 500-sqm restaurant, giving diners the possibility of enjoying a new, different experience every time they come to Piur, whether they’re here for a romantic dinner or a relaxed lunch with the whole family.
For the interior design, the Masquespacio duo went with materials that are reminiscent of nature, like the wooden slates used for the dividing walls and banquettes, as well as the terracotta mosaic tiles embedded behind the bench seats and on the floor around the bar. The colour palette is another nod to the earthly references, with warm, natural browns alongside touches of tomato red - the colour of one of the main ingredients used to make pizzas. 
The Piur restaurant designed by Masquespacio is a skilful rendering of references to the building’s architectural history combined with a friendly atmosphere so anyone who ventures in can enjoy a break in their daily routine, with that comfortable warmth of a home away from home. 

Christiane Bürklein 

Project: Masquespacio - https://masquespacio.com/en/
Location: Valencia, Spain
Year: 2019
Photography: Luis Beltran (http://www.luisbeltran.eu)
Find out more: Piur (https://www.piur.es)