Masquespacio's interiors for Piada in Lyon is a contemporary tribute to Italian tradition and style

Valencia firm Masquespacio has just completed the interiors for Piada, an Italian restaurant in Lyon, taking inspiration from its country of origin and its use of traditional and natural ingredients.

Bold, bright and oh-so Italian, it's a colourful contemporary space balanced out with natural materials such as wood flooring and terracotta along with a beautiful living wall of greenery – plants being something of a signature touch for the studio.

"The owners wanted to bring a part of their native Italy to the French city Lyon and introduce Piadinas, a flatbread made of flour that can be used as a side dish or stuffed with typical ingredients from the Italian gastronomy like ham, mozzarella and tomato," explains Christophe Penasse of Masquespacio.

"They knew that to create this traditional Italian food for today's diners, they had to present it through a modern brand and restaurant that would appeal to a young audience."

With the brief in mind, Masquespacio created a space that would celebrate the past, but through a modern aesthetic. "We opted to use tiles with an artisan aspect, alongside a range of elements like the golden bar lamps and arcs with mirrors that remember us of the traditional bars from ancient Italy.

"Using plants, wood and terracotta, on the other hand, the natural touch is visible. The neon light, which reads 'A bit of Italy', was a key requirement from Piada and forms a central part of the design."