The historical center of Correggio, a town near Reggio Emilia, was once home to a coinage workshop. Today, in the town’s former mint, you can enjoy good wine in an informal and elegant atmosphere welcomed by the project’s three young owners and creators.

The bar’s name pays tribute to its original use: La Zecca - Coniamo piaceri (The Mint - We coin pleasures) emphasizes the symbolic link between the value of what the workshop once produced and that of the wines now offered by the wine bar. Customers can choose from an extensive, high-quality wine selection, while enjoying the interior designed for socializing and relaxation.

The project was commissioned to architect, Francesco Masoni of the firm of the same name, who created a sophisticated, minimalist environment, partly inspired by industrial style.

The dark exposed beamed ceiling has been restored and enhanced, standing out against the bright white walls. On the far wall, an entrance leads to the inner cellar where a white sliding barn door – almost invisible against the wall – runs on a metal track attached to the wall together with a panel that displays the carved name of the wine bar.

The ceramic tiles are as dark as the ceiling, decorating not only the floor, but also the wine bar counter -- both the tiles chosen for the restaurant interior and the counter are made of porcelain stoneware.

Concrete-effect stoneware from the Powder collection was chosen for the floor, in the 75- x 75-cm size with a tone-on-tone joint. A deep-colored graphite gray, with a surface full of irregularities and imperfections typical of concrete, the material effect is typical of the original material, yet its practicality is that of porcelain stoneware, perfect both for residential projects and for commercial interiors with frequent foot traffic. Powder features Marazzi High Performance technology, which guarantees extra-durable, high-performance tiles for high-traffic environments.

Characteristics such as stylistic versatility, hygiene and ease of maintenance make porcelain stoneware an ideal covering material not only for walls and floors, but also for furnishing elements. The main counter of the wine bar is covered with metal-effect stoneware, slimline (6-mm) maxi-slabs from The Top Metal Look. Slabs in the 160- x 320-cm format were used for the project; the extra-large size makes it possible to freely design coverings without interruptions and joints, also facilitating -- especially in the case of tops and counters -- cleaning. The slabs were also selected in a shade of gray, this time with iridescent accents.

While concrete and metal are the two main material inspirations for the coverings, wood acts as a unifying element, warming the atmosphere and the furnishings. It extends from the ceiling to the coffee tables and the counter finish, created with horizontal strips laid in relief and accentuated by the lighting.

A trendy bar created by combining minimal metal, concrete and wood elements, elegantly accentuated by the white walls. In contrast with the simplicity of the overall design, the seating (designer orange stools) features an explosion of color, as do the wine bottles, which becomes a kind of furnishing element, as well as the star product around which everything revolves.