Ceramic Tile Creates a Caribbean Ode to Italian Tradition
In the heart of the Caribbean, a space has emerged that transports diners directly into the soul of an Italian home. Caruso, a restaurant designed by architecture studio Arquimilio, led by Ramón Emilio Jiménez Vicens, in the Dominican Republic, exudes joy, intimacy and a deeply evocative atmosphere. It pays tribute to the beloved figure of the Italian “nonna” and to the warm spirit of homes filled with history, objects and affection.
Awarded an honorable mention in the second edition of the APE Grupo Architecture Awards, the project stands out for its theatrical character, sensory richness and bold, contemporary reinterpretation of traditional culture. Caruso’s interior architecture celebrates both Caribbean popular roots and Italian heritage, creating a hybrid, uninhibited and profoundly human design language. This is a space not just to eat, but to feel, to remember and to be moved.
Within just a few square meters, the restaurant delivers an exuberant and welcoming atmosphere. Every corner has been thoughtfully curated: walls clad in ceramic tile, colorful wooden shelves filled with Italian goods and nostalgic decorative details. Chandeliers have been reimagined as upside-down planters with lemon trees, adding a fresh and original touch.
The bar features a striking installation: a lamp made of ceramic tomatoes suspended at varying heights, creating a delicate visual cascade. The design achieves a masterful balance between tradition and modernity, resulting in an immersive sensory experience.
Vibrant colors, hand-painted murals depicting classic Italian scenes and an abundance of decorative elements bring to life a space full of personality and warmth. Caruso is more than a restaurant — it is a story told through design, a shared memory captured in every dish, in every detail.
At Caruso, the Souk tile collection by APE Grupo plays a calm yet decisive role. Cladding the entire interior walls with this material helps create a seamless enveloping atmosphere where the boundaries between kitchen and dining area, between the technical and the sensory, fade away. Far from being a purely decorative element, the ceramics act as a skin that wraps the entire space, erasing the division between function and emotion.
“We used a small-format ceramic tile, with color variation and slight imperfections that evoke a handmade feel,” explained Vicens. “This material helps us convey the nostalgia of the nonna’s kitchen — a place centered around family spirit and the ritual of love expressed through food.”
For the architect, design is not just visual but sensory: “We strongly believe in contrasts and in the idea that sensory experience is also tactile. Ceramics are among the most versatile and poetic materials we use in our projects.”
Despite its vibrant and detail-rich aesthetic, Caruso does not feel overwhelming. Everything serves a purpose within the story. From the lemon tree chandeliers to the suspended ceramic tomatoes, each element has meaning within the restaurant’s emotional universe.
“Caruso is maximalist, but every element is tied to a narrative,” said Ramón Emilio. “We wanted each person to fall in love with a different corner, to feel the space belonged to them,”
Caruso was part of the central exhibition at the 9th Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID), held in Madrid under the theme “Expanded Design.” This exhibition brought together outstanding design works from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, showcasing projects with the potential to generate cultural, social and aesthetic impact. In this context, Caruso was presented as a symbol of Dominican interior design and an example of how spaces can tell stories, activate collective memory, and create a true sense of belonging.
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