A Cathedral Of Rum

Chicha is a Spanish word that is both the name of a typical Central and South American drink made of corn and a slang term spoken between friends. It’s the perfect name for a youthful late night hangout serving food inspired and derived from authentic Nicaraguan street food, along with a unique cocktail menu featuring an expansive rum list.

Chicha is housed in an old warehouse garage out in Bushwick, Brooklyn that has been reshaped by C. Wall Architecture in an energetic mix of color and rich wood textures. The space was influenced by the urban characteristics of Leon, Nicaragua with a brilliant white core surrounded by a rich palette of natural colors and textures, including a nearly 20-foot custom back bar, concrete tiling specifically designed for Chicha, and custom wood paneling and millwork made by the Maderas Collective in Managua, Nicaragua.

The restaurant’s identity responds to the Nicaraguan concept but brings it to Brooklyn. We developed a number of logo concepts through the process, including ideas that played on NYC light pole sticker graffiti, shapes inspired by the geometries of the interior architecture, and signage from Nicaraguan street markets. The final identity solution responds to pieces of each of these.

We developed several “confetti” textures inspired by the pure geometries of the interior architecture in both positive and negative colorations. The multiple scales and colorways of the textures are to be in relation to one another across matches, coasters, menus, and other printed collateral. The most exciting use of these textures comes when they are layered on top of one another, on the menus for example, creating a real three-dimensional, eye-catching experience.

Client: Private restaurant group
Category: Interior architecture, design, branding, signage
Year: 2017

Interior Architecture
Role: Project manager, lead designer
Studio: C Wall Architecture
Principal in charge: Cortney Walleston
Millwork: Maderas Collective

Branding & Signage
Studio: Restless Works