Archiscape Blog

From Our Portfolio: Roìa Restaurant

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Karin • Filed under: ,

ROÌA: A TIMELESS RESTAURANT IN NEW HAVEN’S HISTORIC TAFT BUILDING

The Taft Hotel at 261 College Street in the heart of New Haven was designed by New York architect F.M. Andrews and opened in 1912. The grand dining room for the hotel was a 2-story-high space with dark moldings and light-colored walls. After the conversion of the hotel into apartments in 1981, the dining room became a stand-alone restaurant, club and bar. It had undergone many changes when chef/owner Avi Szapiro and his partner decided to renovate it into a modern French-Italian bistro.

DESIGN CONCEPT

The last few iterations of the space had brought various new elements and finishes, some of which were at odds with the original concept of the historic dining room. The goal architecturally, was to bring back the grandeur of the original space, with its marble mosaic floors and oak paneling, and to add elements that are respectful of the early 20th century while catering to a modern clientele.

THE DESIGN TEAM

Grayling Design of New York worked with the new owners to create better space flow and functionality in the large double-story space, and Patriquin Architects joined the team as architects of record. Together, we decided on the overall feel for the new restaurant, with choices of which finishes and elements of the space were to remain. Avi scoured demolition warehouses in search of historic light fixtures, bathroom fixtures and other elements. Peeling back layers of flooring revealed the same mosaic floor as in the lobby. A similar study of the outer walls revealed the original oak paneling seen in historic photographs. The beautifully detailed ceiling was in very good condition and needed only minor repairs.

A NEW LAYOUT

A new stair, new bathrooms and a private dining area are tucked into the back areas of the ground floor to allow for a very open central space.  The main floor also houses a bar area with booths, a mix of seating types in the dining area and a café/dessert bar. The mezzanine’s mix of lounge and table seating allows for flexibility in its uses. New large curtains there serve to separate a large space visually and acoustically from the rest of the clientele, for private parties or corporate functions. Two new kitchens allow for an efficient work flow for Avi and his staff. On the exterior, a better entry flow was created by reducing the number of doors and creating a vestibule for better access from the alley next to the Shubert Theatre. New awnings and insulated windows were added there.

RESULTS

A new restaurant with a timeless feel is created within an historic space. Visitors delight in the sheer scale of the place, though attention is quickly brought to the outstanding food served by attentive waitstaff. The painstaking attention paid by the owners on the design of the place is now brought daily to the locally-produced and prepared food on your plate.

You can visit Roìa Restaurant online here, or in person at:

Roìa Restaurant
261 College Street
(Attached to the Taft Apartments)
New Haven, CT
203.200.7045
info@roiarestaurant.com

See our Roìa Restaurant Portfolio Page, for extra images and information on the project.

Read more about the history of the Taft Hotel here:
A Short History of the Taft Hotel in New Haven, CT

Photo Credits: Meghan Capozzi