If you wonder when it is the best time to visit Milan, many would say during the famous design week which this year takes place from 17th to 22nd of April. It is a great opportunity for anyone who visits the city to be part of the world’s greatest design event, a celebration that showcases creativity and talent from all over the world. Museums, galleries, urban spaces, the whole city offers you an endless list of happenings, exhibitions and performances to choose from. Well, this time you have one more reason to visit Milan until late April as the italian city is the next stop of THE CUBE, the latest pop-up restaurant that has landed above the city’s Piazza del Duomo offering a unique dining experience with spectacular views to the famous cathedral.
THE CUBE in Brussels
Originating from Electrolux’s concept of an itinerant restaurant, THE CUBE has been conceived and organized by the Belgian event agency Absolute Blue; the design of the pavilion, as well as the interior design, was developed by the Italian firm Park Associati, Milan. Milan is the second stop on the European tour of THE CUBE, a nomadic, stateless and cosmopolitan piece of architecture, a pavillion designed to host a small, temporary restaurant. THE CUBE debuted in Brussels on the arc of the Parc du Cinquantenaire in April 2011 where it remained until July. From December 19 – April 26, 2012 THE CUBE is in Milan and will house some of the best Italian star chefs who will perform live for their guests, offering special menus prepared in the kitchen of the restaurant.
The dining pavilion seats 18 people for lunch or dinner and offers a superlative view of Piazza del Duomo, just a few meters away from the Cathedral’s spires, facing Palazzo Reale and the Arengario, the area hosting the new Museo del Novecento. Park Associati’s architectural project has been conceived as a module that can be assembled and disassembled relatively easily. The structure is suitable for all climatic conditions, even the most extreme, while always providing the maximum in living comfort with its refined aesthetics and use of high-quality materials. The pavilion’s lightness of form is emphasized on the exterior by its white colour and given a sense of movement through the use of an aluminum “skin†that has been laser-cut to create a texture with a geometric design that covers the exterior surface. The base of the building, slightly raised with respect to the ground, accentuates the idea of lightness and cleanness of form that is characteristic the entire structure. Inside, more highly advanced technological solutions can be found in the lighting, heating, sound system and obviously, the kitchen equipment.
The interior of the THE CUBE has been designed to accommodate various configurations; the pavilion consists of a large open space with a visible kitchen and a single large table that can disappear by raising it to the ceiling, allowing space for a lounge area after dinner. The total floor area of 140 sqm is divided between the open space and a 50 sqm terrace. The employed materials are highly innovative in terms of technology, eco-sustainability and energy saving, as well as constantly reusable.
the cube -milan piazza duomo plan
plan dinner configuration
plan section 1
plan elevation 1
THE CUBE
EngiThe Cube by Electrolux
Client            Electrolux Home Appliances Emea N.V
period: 19 December 2011 – 26 April 2012
Address          Milano, via Foscolo n.1 (Piazza Duomo)
Area 140 sq/m.
Architecture and Interior DesignÂ
Park Associati, Milano – Filippo Pagliani, Michele Rossi
Source: www.parkassociati.com
Design team
Lorenzo Merloni (project leader)
Alessandro Rossi
Alexia Caccavella
Alice Cuteri
Fabio Calciati_Rendering
Event concept and project management
Absolute Blue, Bruxelles
www.absoluteblue.eu
Graphic consulting and texture Design
Studio FM, Milano
Cristiano Bottino, Barbara Forni, Sergio Menichelli
con Libero Corti
www.studiofmmilano.it
Contractor
Nüssli AG, Hüttwilen, CH
Frieder Braun
Maurizio Ledda
Maik Rauch
www.nussli.com
Floor coverings
FMG SpA, Fiorano Modenese, (MO)
Greenwood srl, Salzano (VE)
www.irisfmg.com
External Lighting
I Guzzini, Milano
www.iguzzini.it
Interior Lighting
Zumtobel SpA, Milano
www.zumtobel.it
Appliances
Electrolux Home Appliance
Electrolux Professional Appliance
Stoccolma
www.electrolux.com
Hood
Max Fire SpA, Villotta di Chions (PN)
www.maxfire.it
Furniture
Driade SpA, Milano
www.driade.it
Carpets
Kasthall Italy, Milano
www.kasthall.com
Photos
Andrea Martiradonna
Carol Kohen
Restaurantes Pop-up | URBSCAPE
13 Aug 2012 at 1:41 am