Studio Elèn Letort transforms 1920s Amsterdam cinema into easygoing and approachable restaurant
A stained glass arch and striped cocktail bar add colourful geometry to the Ceintuur Theatre restaurant in Amsterdam, designed by dutch interiors firm Studio Elèn Letort.
Located in a former cinema originally built in 1921, Studio Elèn Letort transformed the interior into a cafe and restaurant in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighbourhood.
Studio Elèn Letort aimed to respect the original character of the building while introducing playful elements to the Ceintuur Theatre restaurant.
"The goal was to honour the history of the building while introducing a more modern character," studio founder Elèn Letort told Dezeen.
"We aimed to create something timeless, rooted in traditional craftsmanship, yet playful and expressive in its character."
"Playfulness became a guiding principle throughout the design," she continued. "As an all-day concept, the space also needed to feel easygoing and approachable, naturally fitting into the rhythm of the neighbourhood."
On the ground floor, a wooden bar with a marble worktop stands in front of a handmade stained glass arch, which features colours and shapes that draw from the building's original stained glass windows.
"The stained glass design is inspired by the original windows still present in the building," said Letort.
"We wanted to create a dialogue with the Amsterdamse School style, often found in historic Amsterdam architecture, while making it more contemporary through bolder volumes and playful shapes such as the circular elements at the centre."
On the mezzanine above, a rounded cocktail bar made from wood composite was decorated with green striped walls, an Emperador marble top, and a mix of contemporary and vintage lights.
Structural features and brick walls were left exposed in the double-height restaurant, creating an industrial appearance that Studio Elèn Letort softened with full-length acoustic curtains on the upper floor.
"From the outset, there were specific preservation requirements that shaped the design," said Letort.
"Embracing the exposed brickwork and structure became a natural way to respect the building's heritage while integrating it into the overall interior concept."
Ceintuur Theatre was furnished with a mix of vintage and bespoke pieces, including a custom-designed sofa with a cylindrical bolster built atop a triangle-shaped backrest.
Other restaurants recently featured on Dezeen include a Greek restaurant in Sydney defined by concrete and steel surfaces and a cafe in Almaty, Kazakhstan, informed by Soviet-era architecture.
The photography is by Daniëlle Siobhán.
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