Located at 974 Palmer Alley in CityCenterDC, Centrolina is dual-concept market and osteria that blends a casual California aesthetic with the sensibility of an upscale urban market. The market “island” anchors the space and guests circulate around it, ultimately discovering the intimate restaurant beyond. With two entries, one, which highlights the coffee counter, and the other that highlights the bar, each has its own identity while being unified by key architectural elements—drop down steel shelving and wood trim that wraps the coffee area. CORE worked with, chef and owner, Amy Brandwein to develop the color and materials palette using inspiration from two of Brandwein’s favorite cities—California and New York. The design goal was to create a restaurant and market that was both California-cool and New York-hip. To do this, CORE combined white, cream, grey, and blond-wood tones with sophisticated punches of turquoise, terracotta, and fuchsia. Matte-white metal finishes join white-painted brick, leather, light wood, and polished concrete to form a cohesive aesthetic.
Status: Built
Location: Washington, DC, US
Firm Role: Design Architect
Additional Credits: Client: Amy Brandwein
Project Team: Allison Cooke, David Cheney, Meryl Mullins
General Contractor: Rand Construction Corporation
Photography: Greg Powers
