Strada Restaurant

Strada, the nationwide high street modern Italian restaurant chain, has been revamped by London based architects De Matos Ryan working with brand consultants The Intro Partnership.Originally appointed to trial a design in 7 sites, De Matos Ryan is now delivering a refresh programme nationwide.

Unlike conventional service industry rollout programmes where the designer is appointed to draw up a pattern book concept design which is handed on to a contractor, the practice has been retained as design ambassador, producing tailored schemes for all 70 units nationwide. The Refresh rollout programme delivers 40 completed sites in the first financial year 2010-2011 with the remaining thirty scheduled for completion by December 2011. The practice have had to work to a fast-paced programme with each fit-out installation taking 7-9 days in order to minimise the closure period and loss of revenue. The £5 million project has included 70 refurbishments of existing units and the model has now been extended to 5 new-build fit-outs, which will include new sites at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and Westfield Stratford City.

The design scheme has been informed by market research and customer feedback. Familiar motifs such as convivial lighting and banquette seating remain within a sharper more distinguished interior.