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A Hospitality Interior Shaped by Pause, Texture and Restraint
For Anise, A-nrd Studio approached design as a slow unfolding rather than a single statement. The project reworks an existing venue with minimal intervention, transforming it into a space that encourages people to arrive, settle and return. As Alessio Nardi puts it, “It’s not about one standout gesture, but about how everything works quietly in the background.”
The starting point was colour rather than material. Inspired by the warmth, depth and contrast associated with Indian spices, A-nrd Studio translated chromatic cues into a restrained material language. “We looked at colour first, not literally, but in terms of warmth and contrast, and then translated that into materials that could carry those colours in a quieter way,” explains Alessio. Velvet, leather, terrazzo and timber were selected for how they absorb and reflect tone, allowing colour to feel embedded rather than applied.
Softness plays a central role throughout the interior. Against the strong presence of the existing architecture and marble bar, tactile materials rebalance the space. “Softness was essential in rebalancing the space,” says Lukas Persakovas. “Materials like velvet, leather and rugs change how the space feels to sit in, not just how it looks.” This shift becomes more pronounced as the interior moves from bar to lounge to booth, guiding visitors towards calmer, more settled areas.
Flooring is fundamental to this spatial rhythm. The original encaustic tiles were retained to ground the venue and preserve continuity. Rugs by modulyss are introduced selectively beneath banquettes and bistro tables, defining seating areas without physical barriers. “There’s an immediate, almost subconscious shift when you step onto a rug,” Alessio notes. “The texture underfoot softens your pace, grounding you and inviting you to slow down.”
These rugs do more than zone the space visually. They play an important acoustic role, absorbing sound where people gather. As Lukas explains, “They help soften conversations and reduce reverberation without over-treating the space. It allows the room to feel lively but controlled.” Beyond visually defining zones and improving acoustics, the rugs help emotionally anchor the space, reinforcing the idea that these are moments to sit and stay rather than simply pass through.
Sustainability is embedded in this restrained approach. Retaining and reworking key elements shaped the entire design direction. “Working with what was already there is fundamental to how we approach projects,” says Alessio. “It becomes about adjustment and refinement rather than removal.”
At Anise, rugs are not decorative additions. They anchor moments of pause, slow movement and support conversation. They reinforce the idea of the venue as a place of return. Or, as Alessio describes it, “a space that allows people to slow down.” A belief closely shared by modulyss, where flooring is understood as a tool to shape how people feel, move and stay within a space