For "La Maruca," Zooco Estudio proposes a spatial journey that begins with a sculptural "fifth façade." Through artisanal carving techniques, the ceiling plane and supporting elements are sculpted, defining the various spaces and functions housed within the venue.
The materials and imagery that make up the space transcend mere ornamentation. Oak wood envelops the interior, providing a sense of warmth that contrasts and engages with the limestone and the marble bar. Large images of Picos de Europa landscapes adorn the walls, completing the atmosphere and reinforcing the sense of a sanctuary, effectively distancing the diner from the surrounding urban landscape.
"La Maruca Azca" by Zooco Estudio. Photograph by David Zarzoso.
Project description by Zooco Estudio
At the heart of Azca, where the geometry of glass and steel dictates the rhythm of the city, La Maruca emerges as a necessary counterpoint: a mountain retreat offering visual calm and domestic warmth. While previous projects looked towards the sea, here the space turns inward to create an oasis—a contemporary cabin located in the financial centre of Madrid.
The project distances itself from the surrounding orthogonality through a language of organic forms that permeates the entire space. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a sculpted fifth façade: through a carving process, the ceiling plane and the supporting elements are shaped, defining the different spaces and programmes beneath them. These ceilings create a sense of shelter, merging with columns that lose their sharp edges to become tree-trunk-like forms clad in natural plaster finishes.
The nobility of oak wood runs throughout the interior, bringing warmth that dialogues with limestone and a spectacular marble bar. This central piece, characterised by powerful curved lines, stands as an altar sharing the same organic character as the rest of the furniture, all designed under the premise of fluidity and comfort.
Along the walls, the retreat opens towards its origin: large-scale landscape images of the Picos de Europa mountains. These images of Cantabrian landscapes are not mere decoration; they reinforce the refuge analogy, transporting diners beyond the urban environment. This envelope is completed by a textile perimeter that, like a soft skin, embraces the venue and helps create an intimate and private atmosphere.
As is characteristic of the restaurant brand, the open kitchen remains the lit hearth—the central fire of the refuge—where the honesty of stainless steel takes centre stage. Ultimately, La Maruca Azca is an exercise in sensory architecture, demonstrating that even beneath the shadow of towering skyscrapers, it is possible to find a place that feels, above all, like home.
