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ván Pomés Leiz (Barcelona, 1968), architect and author of the project, has lived since childhood the passion of his progenitor Leopoldo Pomés for photography and the passion for architecture of Alfonso Milá, his father's partner. Iván grew up between Flash Flash and Giardinetto and cannot imagine his life without these two establishments. He states that Flash Flash's golden anniversary is an important date but believes that "even if it were forty-nine years, the responsibility is the same. Croma is the project I have suffered the most with in my life. I am against the repetition of establishments. We have sought the complicated path because we have reinterpreted many things so that each one has its own personality."
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The passion with which Iván speaks and the enthusiasm with which he shows each of the details reveals his desire for the Flash spirit to remain alive. "I believe this opening is a guarantee of Flash Flash's survival. Before there were two owners, Alfonso and Cecilia and Leopoldo and Karen, they were very clear about what they wanted and now, although we are many partners, including the Milá family and the Pomés family, we have in common that we want to follow in their footsteps."
Flash-Flash and Giardinetto are among the few things left of Barcelona; we have a duty to maintain themIván knows his city well and appreciates it more and more every day.Barcelona brand premisesThe Flash and the Giardinetto are among the few things left of Barcelona; we have a duty to maintain them.Croma is born after years of reflectionWe have been thinking about it for a long time;the idea is that each one has its own identity, with a different language and a different menu". The name comes after a brainstormingof terms related to photography and chroma is the first of them; "chroma is a technique used in photography, in cinema and television; it is a color key".
Croma by Flash is located at Avenida Diagonal 640, in a space that used to be a bank office but fits very well with the Flash philosophy because it is open-plan and allows for the creation of a magical play of tables, lights, reflections and colors. "The person who came looking for us proposed this space and I think the location is perfect because it is surrounded by offices; also, in the long run it can become a restaurant where people have a first drink after dinner. We don't want to compete with our neighbors Bella's and Negro, each one has its own character," explains Iván Pomés.
My father was delighted with this new concept of adding color to FlashThe alma mater of this project emphasizes that he immediately saw clearly that it was an opportunity they could not miss. In addition,he had time to talk about it with his fatherbefore he died: "He was delighted with this new concept of putting color to the Flash." Color and more things that give it a modern touch. News regarding the Flash Flash? "On the floor we have putmortexwhich is a waterproof material with a lime base, we have also added glossy varnished American walnut wood. If you notice, all materials are shiny andthe color yellow sneaks in as a tribute to Kodak film boxes. We have given a lot of importance to the skylights and we have put gels to sift the light from the spotlights. Miguel Milá's lamps coexist with the Heat Had Bowl, all of them from Santa & Cole. We have taken care of every detail."
It is an open-plan space of two hundred square meters. "The other Flash is bigger, although it doesn't seem like it ---reveals Iván---. This one is more square and with a lot of facade." In search of more comfort, they have separated the sofa from the walls to be able to pass an arm and have opted to lower the ceiling to make it more cozy. The play of mirrors and glass makes people feel like the protagonists of the place.
Anti-Covid measures and healthy food
The restaurant opened last Monday, October 5, at noon, in the midst of the maelstrom of regulations to deal with the pandemic. They have had to adapt to the new schedules and redesign the distribution of space: "We have the Covid plan, with capacity for 50%, which is fifty people, and the non-Covid plan. Nobody can wait at the bar and, at the moment, it is advisable to reserve." The sidewalk in this section of Diagonal is very generous and its neighbors have large terraces. "We have also asked to put tables outside, but the issue of the terrace is without a date because we depend on the city council."
Croma is committed to healthy food. "We go from the fifty tortillas offered on the Flash menu to fifteen tortillas and all of them are new. There are also cold dishes such as two ceviches and two tartares, rice dishes, pasta and updated burgers such as chicken or vegan. In total there are two pages of menu."
His office, Llamazares y Pomés, has been designing restaurant premises for years. "We have done the Macba Café, the renovation of the Giardinetto, the Igueldo, the Fragments Café and Picants Curtidillo for take away food." What projects does he have in hand? "Now we work a lot in Andorra, we recently did the Vallbanc headquarters with an Andorran office and, in Barcelona, we are doing several renovations in private homes."
I would remove all establishments that imitate the style of Lázaro Rosa-ViolánA true Barcelonian, what have you contributed to your city? "The renovation of Giardinetto won the FAD Award 2013/2014 and now the opening of Croma by Flash, I believe these are two important contributions. We know what Barcelona was and I believe we have the capacity to understand the city's philosophy."
If it's not indiscreet, what would you remove from the city? "I would remove all the establishments that imitate Lázaro Rosa-Violán's style."
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