- Interior
In a Madrid neighbourhood where new trends come and go at speed, Plantea Studio has designed an interior that deliberately resists fleeting fashions. Hermosilla is a restaurant that focuses on an atmosphere not tied to a particular style, but emerging from the intrinsic qualities of the historic building itself. The design takes advantage of the changing light through the large windows, allowing the space to continually reconfigure itself throughout the day: bright and defined in sunlight, softened by clouds, and warm and intimate in the evening.
Behind Hermosilla is Plantea Studio, founded by two brothers who have been exploring architecture together since their student days. Their background spans both academic research and practical experience across a variety of programmes, from residential projects and galleries to restaurants and cultural spaces. This broad foundation allows them to approach each project as an exercise in precision and experimentation. The studio combines craftsmanship with a contemporary reading of spaces, always seeking a balance where detail and concept support one another. 
For Hermosilla, the original Gutiérrez Soto building served as the starting point. The earthy tones of the brick façade are carried inside into an interior that takes on a pronounced, almost cave-like atmosphere. Existing elements such as concrete, masonry and plaster are left exposed and complemented with new forms, like the rounded enclosure of the bread and pizza oven. This creates a strong continuity, with different textures combining to form a calm yet rich backdrop. The contrast with the generous openings to the outside enhances the sense of the interior as a compact core within the urban fabric.
The contrast with the generous openings to the outside enhances the sense of the interior as a compact core within the urban fabric
Within this foundational material, accents emerge: aged timber for the floor, terracotta and dark wood for fixed furniture, and coral-red natural stone for work surfaces and basins. These additions deepen the space without overpowering the original structure, counterbalanced by lighter elements. Birch plywood and aluminium chairs add clarity and airiness, while lighting fixtures by designers such as Arne Jacobsen and Charlotte Perriand introduce subtle, almost white points of light into the warm colour palette. Two large ficus plants emphasise the height of the space, creating an unexpected, almost theatrical intervention. 
The interior unites strength and restraint in a single gesture. By carefully managing colour, texture and scale, Plantea Studio has created an environment that feels both robust and refined. Hermosilla demonstrates how the studio is able to make an existing structure speak while enhancing it with a design that continually adapts to use. It is a place where every component forms part of a larger whole, designed with attention to simplicity, nuance and precision.
Photography by Salva Lopez
Text by Carolien Depamelaere