Located in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy district, Solunto brings a fun, eclectic design together with rustic Italian flavors. The essence of the project is a mix of Mediterranean colors, custom design elements, giant graphics on the walls, and local sustainable materials. We wanted to tell a story by playing with the floor plan and flow, creating three different experiences in one space. The bakery, restaurant and wine bar are well-identified by different materials, colors and features, while the hex tiles on the floor create an abstract path through the space.

Serena Zanello was born in Ivrea, Italy and earned her bachelor degree in Architecture at “Facoltà di Architettura , Politecnico di Torino” in Dec 2003. After her studies in Italy and France ( Ecole d’architecture de Saint’ Etienne ) she started her professional career in 2003 becoming a member of the Turin Architects Order and working with Pininfarina Extra srl , one of the most renowned international design firm. Serena is now leaving in San Francisco where she has played a key role in the store design language and strategy as a Design Manager for Starbucks Coffee. Now, after 8 years of successful, award winning projects and enriching work experience she is a founding partner in Dopamine Design and looks forward to a bright future along with partners, clients and friends.

Inspired by the molecule that mediates pleasure in the human brain, at Dopamine Design we strive to keep these incredible molecules busy by creating experiences that are a feast to the senses. Our strength is in establishing bridges between the world of engineering, science or structure and that of emotion, pleasure and senses. Serena Zanello and Daniel Mota Veiga have joined their passionate and creative minds to put Dopamine at the service of everyone who wishes to create extraordinary products, spaces and experiences .