Il Vicino - Albuquerque, NM

Il Vicino, the neighbor, is an urban infill renovation whose name and spirit reflects the rebirth of the pedestrian-friendly business vicinity of Albuquerque's Nob Hill area.  This recently revitalized district of shops and restaurants clustered along Central Avenue-old Route 66, the city's spine, is a lively mix of prewar, intimately-scaled, commercial strip architecture and contemporary retailing activity.  The intention of the owners and architect was to create an experience that was comfortable and cosmopolitan, with appeal to many ages.  Il Vicino's design captures the expressions of period and city life by reinterpreting the northern Italian trattoria and the turn-of-the century Paris bistro.

This restaurant was the first by its group of owners.  Expectations were high and budget was low.  With owners and architect working closely together the entire project, including architectural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing, was amazingly completed for less than thirty dollars per square foot.  Many architectural details were designed and fabricated in the architect's workshop.

The three-dimensional facade and lettering heightens the storefront design, to mark Il Vicino's location both for fast-moving street traffic and neighborhood sidewalk strollers.  Its active diagonals and asymmetry break up the box of space that fronts the street.  The diverging and converging lines of its fan shape suggest movement between exterior and interior.Vibrant reds, yellow-ochres and black integrate with architectural forms and materials to enhance the ambiance of a day and night spot that beckons the passerby in search of authentic cuisine and style. II Vicino's role in the neighborhood is not just another pizza place, but a city landmark, and focal point for urban quality of life. There are now 5 Il Vicino locations - 4 in Albuquerque and 1 in Santa Fe.