Cucina Enoteca

Sustainable design restaurant

Cucina Enoteca 

By: Nancy Wei and Judy (jungin jang)

 

 

 

Cucina Enoteca is located in Irvine Spectrum, which opened in December 2011. This is an Italian restaurant that  interiors include a modern kitchen combined with the history and comfort of an old rustic country farmhouse. The restaurant is two stories with high ceilings on the ground floor and an open-air deck on the second story that overlooks the surrounding neighborhood.  Whimsical expressions of Italian classics coupled with a strong Californian influence. A diverse menu of affordable dishes, mostly below $20, comprising of the freshest local produce, and organic and sustainable products.

    The owner Tracy Borkum is also the head designer of this restaurant. Borkum collaborates on the design with craftspeople and artists mostly in local Southern California for the customized furniture and décor. We can feel the strong passion for sustainable designs, green materials and environmentally-efficient projects in this restaurant. Every product provide comfortable atmosphere that offer a sense of history for the goods consumed there. Through carefully-considered interior design elements,  Cucina offers the conscious consumer a new sense of the goods they choose to purchase and support. 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 There are two walls that use recycled wood for coverings. But this is not a simple wall covering job, the recycled wood is formed into tiles giving both walls two different layers of texture. Achieving more movement and activity, they choose a blackboard on the top of the wall. They can use chalk to paint on it, it’s easy to change and clean. The whole process doesn’t waste too much resources. The ceiling is the original architecture ceiling, Tracy Borkum wants to keep the industrial ceiling in tact. Floor is terrazzo which is one of the original recycled products available. As green and sustainable architecture becomes increasingly important, terrazzo’s characteristics of longevity and use of recycled materials remain strong assets. Especially the the shoes molding decoration on one wall is a focal point in this restaurant. For that design, Borkum collected the shoes forms at flea markets and hung them on the wall. 

     Not only does Cucina sell delicious italian food with wine — they go a step further with an interior replete with sustainably-designed furnishings. You can buy most of their furnitures online. Items for sale include chairs, dining tables and pendants light. They  are all designed by local designers.

    The  white chairs are made by faux leather and burlap which are from used coffee burlap sacks. It’s designed by Borkum and made by Chula Vista fabricator Javier Estrada. Each one is different and unique, no two chairs are exactly the same and each one make for interesting and inspiring art piece. The dining tables are bronze topped with turned recycled wood legs and made by Del Mar artist Jennifer Price. The vastly different materials create very interesting texture and contrast. The smooth metal top helps with resisting heat and ease of cleaning. The wooden legs help the table fit in with the rustic style of the restaurant.The orange wire Bend chairs are designed by Los Angeles designer Gaurav Nanda. It made from recycled iron. The bar stool is made by a walnut wood and recycled metal frame. walnut is a soft wood and over time will show inherent wear. Other outdoor chairs all use recycled metal, they will create a rustic feeling. The Small Lotus Floor Chandelier is made from individually hand-cut capiz shells, edged in silver metal and assembled like a stained-glass window to create these blooming lotus chandeliers.The shells came from California beaches. Local products, easy  to transport, which is sustainable.

    The Cucina described the playful look, including a colorful mural by graffiti artist Tokayo, as a mix of old and new. In doing this, Borkum got addicted to flea markets and have met some interesting local artists. Tracy Borkum made a conscious effort to choose sustainable materials and products and made from local market and artists rather than buying something from a catalog. So every design is unique and special. The reaction from customer has been very positive. You can't stop turning your head to find new interesting things in this restaurant, so you can realize the designer accomplished something unique and wonderful by sustainable materials and products.