Interior Designer: Alfons Tost Interiorisme (Alfons Tost)
Contributors: Montse Hernando, Isabel Figueras, Mariona Espinet i Cristina Cirera
Location: Diputació 251 // Barcelona, Spain

FASTVíNIC which opened it doors this summer is a new space where fast food meets good, sustainable design in Barcelona. FASTVíNIC is a living homage to that most simple but delicious dish - the sandwich; mouthwatering renditions of which feature on the menu of this sustainable, eco-friendly spot in the Catalan capital.  In its kitchen, chef Sergi de Meià devises exquisite snacks using only high quality, locally-sourced, seasonal, organic products. The resulting creations are arguably Catalonia's finest sandwiches. The  interior design ‘menu’ also rates highly with its FSC-certified wood, 100% natural materials and Gold Level LEED certification. 

As you understand, FASTVíNIC is 100% organic in design, in the products it uses and most importantly in its mentality! The emphasis on natural and environmentally-friendly products doesn't stop with the food; it only starts there and continues with the forward-thinking design which even includes glasses, trays and further items made from recycled material, thus assisting FASTVíNIC to earn a LEED certificate (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Chief designer Alfons Tost, aimed at creating a functional yet comfy and relaxing self-service restaurant with a ‘non-dramatical’ tone. This is a functional and defused space where the client circulates around the space, while enjoying the self-service concept as well as the environmentally sustainable project to the max. Even Dani Buch and Judit Prat’s graphic design on the store facade ‘welcomes’ you to the  FASTVíNIC’s 0 kilometer/freshenss concept – regarding the proximity of the product, where ‘human-ingredients’ with Catalan attitudes show themselves as “sardanes” and “castellers”.

The FASTVíNIC store is comprised of two levels, the ground floor which includes the kitchen and the dining area while the underground level includes the bathrooms and the service office. On the ground floor, the designers have placed a perimetric element of dexion racking (Mechano shelving system) resolving the requirements of each space. The perimetrical dexion racking undulates to form the furniture pieces; it becomes a seater, a table, a bar, a rack for pots and plants, a shelving system and a wine rack. The plants in the dining area make reference to the “compromise with nature, and the regeneration of oxygen.” An industrial material such as dexion racking systems is given a homely and organic feel in this relaxing environment. All the elements used in the designing process have been selected with one factor in mind – to be fully recyclable and easy to dismantle. On the other hand, the kitchen which is also located on the ground floor has been designed more like a domestic space rather than a commercial space. The  layout, the colors and the materials have purposely been selected; they work like a ‘window-shopping’ procedure thus allowing the client to observe.

A staircase leads to the underground floor where two large elements covered with pine wood comprise the service areas.  Some construction elements have been left unaltered portraying the history of the building and its age. Elements such as the mosaic flooring and the exposed brickwork have been amalgamated together with newer elements which make the men's and women's bathrooms.  Once again, sustainability features throughout the FASTVíNIC areas – equally on the ground and underground floors.  Eco-friendly materials, such as FSC woods (from controlled forests), carcinogenic free adhesives, the recovery/recycling of all the grey water from energetic waste, the lighting of the entire space with energy efficient LED lighting,  as well as the reused wooden boxes system.  Even the food packaging is 100% compostable!

As a design, as a concept, and with regards to its food, is a place that celebrates the finest local products that nature has to offer and a demonstration of commitment to sustainable development. And to put a gold seal - quite literally - on this endeavour, FASTVíNIC has been awarded with a LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, considered to be the international benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance ecological buildings. FASTVíNIC is the first restaurant to be given this recognition in Catalonia.  We hope to see more sustainable, eco-friendly designs like FASTVíNIC in the future.