Maritime Museum Restaurant Design: A Modern Culinary Experience at The Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant by Zooco Estudio

In the picturesque city of Santander, Spain, the Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant emerges as a prime example of maritime museum restaurant design, offering a unique dining experience that seamlessly blends architectural innovation with breathtaking views of the Bay of Santander. Designed by the renowned Zooco Estudio, this restaurant sets a new standard for integrating culinary spaces within museum contexts.

The Architectural Concept

A Seamless Integration with the Maritime Museum

Situated within an architectural complex that includes an Oceanographic Center, the restaurant is a modern addition to a structure conceived between 1975 and 1978 by architects Vicente Roig Forner and Ángel Hernández Morales. Zooco Estudio's design pays homage to the original building's concrete structure and paraboloid membrane vaults, while introducing a contemporary glass volume that houses the restaurant and its terrace on the second floor.

Innovations and Extensions

The restaurant's design addresses the building's historical pathologies by adding a new volume that complements the existing paraboloids. This addition not only resolves structural issues but also transforms the space into a focal point for visitors, with triangular wooden false ceilings framing the concrete structures and highlighting their raw beauty.

The Design Aesthetics

Interior Elegance

The interior design of the Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant is a testament to Zooco Estudio's ability to create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The use of wood and glass within the dining area enhances the natural light and provides diners with an immersive experience of the surrounding maritime landscape.

Exterior Transparency

The exterior of the restaurant is designed as a glass box to maximize transparency, allowing diners to feel as though they are dining at sea. This design choice is nuanced by the use of textiles in the form of curtains, which adjust based on the orientation to provide the perfect balance of light and privacy.

A New Horizon for Museum Restaurants

The Cantabrian Maritime Museum Restaurant by Zooco Estudio represents a significant advancement in maritime museum restaurant design, blending architectural heritage with modern design principles. As a space that offers both a visual and culinary feast, it invites visitors to engage with the maritime history of Santander in a new and exciting way, setting a benchmark for future museum restaurant designs worldwide.

All Photographs are the work of David Zarzoso