Next to Argentina and Brazil, it’s in Uruguay where a considerable number of people with Italian roots live in South America. In fact, for the latter nation, it’s roughly 40% of the population, and the majority of them have settled in Montevideo. Interestingly, Italian exists as a minority language, often spoken by older generations, while Spanish that’s spoken in the region is heavily influenced by Italian dialects, affecting intonation and also incorporating many Italian words. As such, it’s unsurprising that Feltrinelli, a storied Italian bookstore chain based in Milan, has inaugurated its first overseas outpost in the historic downtown of the Uruguayan capital. The company has secured no less than 754 sqm. (8,116 sq.ft.) spread across two floors on the premises of the listed Pablo Ferrando Building, and situated only a stone’s throw away from Plaza Independencia in the historic Ciudad Vieja district.
The structure, erected in 1917 by Uruguayan architect Leopoldo Tosi (1875-1968), features an eclectic Belle Époque and Art Nouveau façade. Local practice toro arquitectos was tapped to create a fitting setting for both a modern bookstore and café. and needless to say, strict preservation requirements shaped every decision from the outset. Every existing element, from mouldings, walls and façade, to staircase, elevator, and the stained-glass skylight, had to be retained, not only to fully reinstate the ornate building’s former glory, but in fact, its original architecture. Simultaneously, the interior design needed to meet modern retail standards, resulting in a configuration that’s based on the building’s original axis, enabling a more fluid spatial experience for shoppers, and the introduction of travertine marble surfaces to replace the worn-out originals. Black ironwork on the staircase, light-toned carpentry, and custom-designed furnishings complete a material palette chosen for restraint yet neutral enough to defer to what was already there.
The settings have been meticulously designed to both honour the historic building’s architectural legacy and Feltrinelli‘s branding requirements. The Feltrinelli bookstore stocks a curated selection of around 60,000 titles in Italian and English, and in different academic categories, including a section for kids. Additionally, the bookstore stocks a selection of vinyl records, curated by local companies Little Butterfly Records and Bizarro Records, and very soon, a rotating cultural programme of in-store book presentations, roundtables, workshops, live music, and other events will be launched. And that’s still not all. On the upper floor sits a light-filled café seating 41 guests, and it’s a place where to sit back after or in between shopping sprees for breakfast, lunch or a snack. The menu is still a work in progress as we speak, but also offers options for vegetarians and vegans. © superfuture
Feltrinelli
Peatonal Sarandí 675 (Ciudad Vieja)
11000 Montevideo
Mon-Sat 9am-9pm
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
