The interior design of UNICA Restaurant in central Sofia was developed by IPA - Architecture and more within an existing seven-story residential building on Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., recognized for its architectural and cultural heritage. The 597 sq. m restaurant occupies three levels and provides seating for 105 guests.
A key design challenge was adapting the existing building to the functional requirements of a contemporary restaurant while preserving the character of the original structure. The kitchen is located on the basement level and is connected to the dining areas above through dedicated service elevators, separating service circulation from the guest experience.
The entrance sequence transforms a previously long and dim corridor into a bright display area for selected products. From here, guests move through the retail zone and wine room toward the first dining hall, where an open pizza oven becomes both a functional element and a visual focal point.
Two additional dining rooms occupy the upper level. One opens toward Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., while the other overlooks the inner courtyard. The courtyard is incorporated into the interior experience through a large mural on the opposite facade, turning an otherwise enclosed urban space into part of the restaurant's visual composition.
The design concept combines references to Italian culture with a Bulgarian interpretation. This relationship is expressed through the mural and through a recurring arch motif that appears in different forms throughout the restaurant, creating a common visual language between the individual spaces.
Lighting is another defining element of the interior. Forty-seven hand-painted spherical fixtures create focused pools of warm light above the tables, while sculptural wooden elements extend across the ceilings. These amorphous forms, conceived as abstract vines, also integrate lighting and establish a deliberate contrast with the exposed concrete surfaces.
Turquoise wall finishes, natural wood, visible concrete, greenery, and mirrors form the principal material and color palette. Mirrors are positioned throughout the restaurant to introduce additional depth and reflect both planting and architectural elements, expanding the perception of the existing spaces.
The completed interior received First Prize in the Public Design - Restaurant category at Dibla Design Awards 2022. More information about the recognition is available in IPA's publication on the UNICA Dibla Design Awards recognition.
