![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen-hero-852x479.jpg)
Heliotrope Architects creates secret room inside Seattle’s Cortina restaurant
Local studio Heliotrope Architects has designed an upscale Italian eatery in downtown Seattle with clean lines, various tones of wood and a secret room tucked behind a one-way mirror.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x584.jpg)
Cortina is located at the base of Two Union Square, a prominent office tower in downtown Seattle. The restaurant's north-facing storefront, which stretches 100 feet (30metres), has large windows that usher in natural light while giving passers-by a glimpse of the interior.
Built with an L-shaped layout, the 7,000-square-foot (650-square-metre) restaurant has three distinct zones. The foyer and bar are situated in one leg, while booth-style seating and a secret dining room occupy the other. A lounge was placed at the corner, where the two legs meet.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x942.jpg)
Designed by local studio Heliotrope Architects, the restaurant is intended to have a calm and sophisticated atmosphere. All rooms have a highly disciplined appearance, with lines that are "crisp and clean".
"The architecture exploits the very long rooms by using a repetition of form and fixture to establish a rhythm to the design akin to a musical beat," said the studio.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_12-852x1020.jpg)
The team used neutral colours and earthy materials, including various types of wood. White-panelled walls are paired with red oak ceilings. Underfoot, wide-plank flooring is made of white oak – a material used for decor as well.
"Detailing is simple but executed at a very high standard, focusing on the inherent beauty of the natural materials and subtle shifts of light and shadow across the finishes," said the studio.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_17-852x645.jpg)
The secret dining room is accessed via a door that looks like a panelled wall. The covert space features dark walnut panelling and seating for up to to 40 guests. One side of the room is lined with a one-way mirror, enabling guests to peer out while blocking anyone from seeing inside.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_18-852x595.jpg)
The 63-foot (19-metre) bar – among the longest in the city – is faced with granite and topped with wood. Suspended overhead is a long row of black, cylindrical pendants by XAL Lighting. The skinny fixtures send light downward, illuminating diners' cocktails and meals.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-interiors-restaurant-seattle-washington-usa-dezeen-852.gif)
The dining areas feature pale wooden chairs by the Spanish furniture brand Andreu World, and disc-shaped sconces by Rich Brilliant Willing. Banquettes and booths are wrapped in smooth, brown leather.
In the lounge, banquettes are paired with small black tables and low clamshell chairs in a grey hue. Floating above is a chandelier made of colourful, blown-glass orbs that add a dash of exuberance to an otherwise subdued space.
![Cortina by Heliotrope Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2019/09/cortina-heliotrope-architects-seattle_dezeen_2364_col_14-852x1019.jpg)
Founded in 1999, Heliotrope Architects has completed a range of projects, from commercial projects in urban locales to modern dwellings in the forest. Other projects by the firm include a cedar-clad home that features a double-height art studio, a Japanese garden and a wooden soaking tub.
Photography is by Haris Kenjar.