ARMANDO.

Armando opens its first restaurant in Madrid in collaboration with Trenchs Studio, entrusting us with shaping a concept that reinterprets tradition through a contemporary lens. The brand was founded in 2020 as a delivery service, with a strong and distinctive identity that became the starting point for the interior design. The challenge for the studio lay precisely in translating this graphic and conceptual universe into a physical space, using bold colors—such as blue and yellow—and materializing them through a language consistent with its essence.

The project is built around the figure of Armando, a character placed at the origin of the narrative by Grupo La Ancha: an Argentine man, fond of good food, cheerful and full-bodied, who in the 1970s walked into his restaurant and asked for the largest breaded cutlet they could serve—one that would later bear his name. From this founding story, Trenchs Studio embraces the narrative, reinterpreting the visual codes of the 1970s through elements such as graven-style latticework and stainless steel, while subtly referencing voluptuous forms—reminiscent of a Fernando Botero sculpture—that connect past and present through the studio’s perspective.

The design is based on a carefully balanced dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity. Materials that evoke classic Spanish bars are combined with a more modern language, introducing robust elements that echo both the idea of hearty dining and the restaurant’s own graphic identity. The combination of stainless steel and wood paneling recalls familiar, time-honored interiors while providing functionality and warmth. The wooden lattice with wired glass adds rhythm and depth to the space.

The blue flooring, with its strong chromatic presence, acts as the foundation of the project, bringing energy and character. Above it, a continuous yellow banquette becomes the defining gesture of the space: a unifying element that organizes the dining area, structures the experience, and gives the project a clear and recognizable identity. Lighting and detailing reinforce this balance, creating an atmosphere that is vibrant yet welcoming, where every element contributes without excess.

The result is a space with a strong identity, connecting with a familiar collective imagination while offering a renewed perspective. Armando Carranza is not just a restaurant, but a statement of intent: to recover the essence of tradition, reinterpret it, and project it into the present. A place where tradition and contemporaneity coexist naturally, shaping an experience that feels both familiar and refreshed.