Contract Magazine - July/August 2017 - 109

The dining area (above)
is furnished with minimal
wood chairs in black and
teal, oak veneer tables,
and tan-leather-upholstered
banquettes. Two chandeliers
with glass globes and a
set of black shelves feature
brass details (opposite,
top). Leather pulls
(opposite, bottom) lend
tactility to the cherry wood
storage compartments.

When you think of cuisine in Poland, you might not picture
a contemporary Argentine steak house. But Campo Modern Grill
in Wrocław is indeed a comforting setting for charcoal-oven-cooked
food, and it is the new cool spot in town. With an integrated interior
design and brand identity by Wrocław-based Buck Studio, led by the
husband-and-wife team of Dominika and Paweł Buck (see interview
on page 30), the steak house is a contrast of natural textures.
"What we try to do in all of our projects is to create unique, inspiring,
but also authentic customer experiences," explains Dominika.
"We proposed a concept that is focused more on preparing food with
care and love rather than just serving high-quality steaks."
Cube conceals back-of-house elements
The 2,260-square-foot, 66-seat restaurant occupies the ground
floor of a new mixed-use building. Floor-to-ceiling glass facades-
facing the street at the front of the restaurant and a patio at the
opposite end-provide passersby with a clear view of the activity
within Campo.
Strikingly, a boxlike structure clad in cherry wood occupies
one-half of the restaurant's floor space. Accessible from three sides,

the large cube houses the traditionally back-of-house elements,
including the kitchen, service rooms, restrooms, and cloakroom.
"Introducing the cube was basically the smartest way to arrange the
back of the house without interfering with the windows," says Paweł.
The cube's 46-foot-long front wall faces the main dining area,
incorporating serving stations, wine racks, and storage compartments
with tactile leather pulls. A ladder on a sliding rail provides access
to higher sections, and an opening frames views into the kitchen,
where food is cooked in a charcoal oven. Corridors with black terrazzo
floors on each side of the cube lead to the restrooms and kitchen.
Dark and natural palette creates a cozy effect
"Our aim was to create a casual, relaxed, lively atmosphere. We wanted
an experience where customers really feel comfortable and looked
after-just as they would if they were dining at a friend's place or in
their own home," says Paweł. "This is why the kitchen is clearly visible-
chats with the chef are very welcome. There is no regular bar counter,
which would usually enforce a distance or a border."
The dining room features oak flooring and a wall of black pebbles
that catch the light and produce a striking contrast with the warmcolored wood. In the center of the pebble-clad wall, a floor-to-ceiling
panel of black mesh is backlit by neon letters that spell out the
restaurant's name.
Diners can choose from a variety of seating options: minimal
wood chairs in shades of black and teal at oak veneer tables, stools
at a high bar table, or comfortable banquettes upholstered in tan leather.
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Contract Magazine - July/August 2017

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