park associati: the cube temporary restaurant, milan

‘the cube by electrolux’ by park associati, milan, italy all images courtesy park associati image © andrea martiradonna

in its second installment during the european tour, ‘the cube’ by electrolux designed by milanese practice park associati currently overlooks the piazza del duomo in milan, italy. delicately perched upon via ugo foscolo 1, the pavilion contains a temporary restaurant which will accommodate 18 individuals at one time and offer spectacular panoramas of the adjacent cathedral’s spires, palazzo reale and museo del novecento. a large single table fills the open dining space, with clear views into the food preparation area.

performing live for guests, star italian chefs will prepare special lunch and dinner menus in the high efficiency, energy saving kitchen furnished by electrolux. after the meal is complete, the table rises into the ceiling, transforming the internal program into a lounge. the 140 square meters of occupiable area includes a 50 square meter outdoor terrace overlooking the bustling plaza below.

side elevation image © andrea martiradonna

easily assembled and disassembled, the modular construct is prepared for a wide range of climates, even extreme conditions, providing visitors with a comfortable experience. the white appearance produces a visual lightness to the structure and has been additionally elevated from the roof to emphasize the visual lightness. the exterior’s aluminum panels create a sense of movement with a laser-cut geometric pattern which transitions in transparency to opaque to conceal the necessary components of the food preparation area. all selected materials are innovative addressing technology and eco-sustainability as well as reusability.

the venue is taking reservations through april 26th, coinciding with the milan design week 2012. availability and booking information may be found here.

outward view from the cube image © andrea martiradonna

‘it is one of those projects that open things up: in fact too often solutions resolve but do not leave space for the imagination, for innovation, for evolution. this ‘cube’ that is not actually a cube, has a great proactive force and immediately presents itself for what it is: defying the paralysis of thinking and the imagination.’ -michele de lucchi

terrace overlooking the duomo image © andrea martiradonna

table seats 18 guests at one time image © andrea martiradonna

view of the structure from the piazza del duomo image © andrea martiradonna

installation of the structure image © andrea martiradonna

installation of the structure image © andrea martiradonna

view of the structure from below image © designboom

floor plan / level 0 1. dinner configuration 2. kitchen 3. storage 4. toilet 5. technical room 6. terrace

floor plan / level 0 1. living room 2. kitchen 3. storage 4. toilet 5. technical room 6. terrace

roof plan

section

elevation

elevation

unfolded skin

wall section detail 1. roof cover 2. roof of prefabricated steel elements 3. under facade of aluminum panels 4. main steel construction 5. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels 6. aluminum panel facade 7. floor of wengè boards 8. facade air screening 9. basement wooden beams

wall section detail 1. roof cover + prefabricated steel elements 2. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels 3. aluminum panel facade 4. floor of wengè boards 5. basement wooden beams

wall section detail 1. roof cover + prefabricated steel elements 2. main steel construction 3. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels 4. aluminum panel facade 5. floor of wengè boards 6. facade air screening 7. basement wooden beams

roof detail 1. roof cover 2. roof of prefabricated steel elements 3. under facade of aluminum panels 4. main steel construction 5. ceiling of acoustic wooden panels 6. aluminum panel facade 7. floor of wengè boards 8. facade air screening 9. terrace floor of wengè boards 10. basement wooden beams

summer efficiency diagram

winter efficiency diagram

aluminum panels diagram

project info:

client: electrolux home appliances emea n.v period: 19 dicembre 2011 – 26 aprile 2012 architecture and interior design: park associati, milano – filippo pagliani, michele rossi design team: lorenzo merloni (project leader), alessandro rossi, alexia caccavella, alice cuteri. fabio calciati_rendering event concept and project management: absolute blue, bruxelles graphic consulting and texture design: studio fm, milano, cristiano bottino, barbara forni, sergio menichelli, con libero corti general contractor: zh, campo tures, (bz) general coordination and structural engineering: general planning, milano; ing. giovanni bonini, project direction; francesco prennushi, site supervision contractor: nüssli ag, hüttwilen, ch, frieder braun, maurizio ledda, maik rauch mechanical and electrical engineering: greenville, milano; ing. fabrizio onofri floor coverings: fmg spa, fiorano modenese, (mo), greenwood srl, salzano (ve) external lighting: i guzzini, milano interior lighting: zumtobel spa, milano appliances: electrolux home appliance, electrolux professional appliance, stoccolma hood: max fire spa, villotta di chions (pn) furniture: driade spa, milano carpets: kasthall italy, milano area: 140 sqm