Gatto Bianco: A Retro Industrial Bistro by Hsin-Ting Weng

Reviving the Past: A Theatrical Dining Experience

Weng's inspiration for Gatto Bianco was to create a bistro that provides not only good food and beverages but also a family-friendly recreation for residents from the nearby community. The design scheme is retro industrial, playful and appealing, much like storytelling in theatrical scenes. The space is bright, animated, and carefree, inviting customers to experience different dining ambiances in different table sections.

What sets Gatto Bianco apart is its unique properties. The bistro is filled with interesting, theatrical scenes from iconic styles: vintage Windsor loveseats, Danish retro armchairs, French industrial chairs, and Loft leather barstools, all situated against rustic backdrops of shabby-chic brick and wood texture. The design is a deliberate configuration of assorted furniture pieces from various eras of retro styles, avoiding chaotic visualization.

The realization of Gatto Bianco followed industrial features, using black corrugated metal ceiling and slightly painted brick walls which retain raw mason appearance. Colors were added on distressed-wood texture fence panels, and the owner’s logo was animated as a cat playing on turfs, providing an inviting and pleasing master vision.

Seating areas are compartmentalized by different styles of furniture pieces, rather than intentional divider walls or island cabinets. Massive picture windows afford an airy sensation to the space. The building comprises shabby-chic brick columns alongside picture windows, providing rustic vibes in sunlit surroundings. Pendants under the corrugated metal ceiling support ambiance lighting, while the kitten metal art treading on turfs and running to hide under the tree attracts attention, echoing to the colorful wood textured backdrop.

Located in Taichung city, Taiwan, Gatto Bianco is a testament to Weng's ability to create a space that is not just about dining, but a total experience. The design was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018. The award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation.