Arrital Showroom in Milano

For the new Arrital showcase, AMDL CIRCLE continues its reflection on the concept of a showroom, understood as a multifunctional and inspirational space. The project within the office building, designed by Vico Magistretti in the heart of Milan, creates a new meeting place in the city centre, intended to host events, foster relationships, and encourage collaboration. The space, spanning three levels, takes on the characteristics of flexibility and transparency, offering an immersive journey of exploration: the kitchen emerges as a pivotal domain, a captivating stage for narratives and storytelling, well aligned with Arrital’s philosophy. The concept narrates the company’s innovative and future-oriented approach, aiming to establish it as a distinctive and reproducible feature in other stores, to create a spacious, lively, elegant, and luminous space with strong recognisability. Introducing elements such as the suspended flower beds and the “rosso Vico” staircase contributes to making the new environment unique and exclusive.
Respect and renewal are the principles that guided the renovation of the building designed by Vico Magistretti and constructed in 1955-57, giving a new identity to the existing structure and seamlessly aligning it with its updated purpose. The interior spaces have been redesigned to be spacious and luminous, free from clutter and easily reconfigurable. The aim was to enhance the verticality of the architecture by connecting the three levels through the opening of a void and inserting the “rosso Vico” staircase, the favourite colour of the Milanese architect, and a design choice that not only reaffirms the connection with the building’s history but also constitutes a strongly recognisable element, even from the outside.
Symbolically, the exterior, the street, and nature enter the building through a suspended urban garden, an unexpected solution that invites visitors to the entrance and eliminates the barrier between exterior and interior space. In the showroom designed by AMDL CIRCLE, the store is no longer just a place for shopping but also a moment of discovery, encounter, and culture. The kitchen is the focal point around which the project revolves, generating a warm, welcoming, and comfortable space. The suspended garden offers a visual stopping point, providing a pause for exploration and contemplation of the installation. It encourages reflection on the quality of food, preparation methods, production cycles, and the potential of each ingredient. Moreover, it doubles as a resource during show cooking events. The inclusion of small flower beds further enhances the visual connection with the greenery of the inner courtyard, emphasising the interplay between city and nature – an integral aspect of the inside-outside relationship told within the showroom.
Each level is designed to foster opportunities for interaction. The ground floor, dedicated to reception and exhibition, is set up for performative show cooking events, while the first floor accommodates more operational activities with an exhibition area, offices, and a meeting room, without relinquishing the concept of flexibility and the possibility of space reconfiguration.
The basement, opening onto the inner courtyard, has been revitalised for the occasion with a green setup akin to a small urban oasis, favouring the entry of natural light and reconnecting to the “suspended garden”. Here, an oak wood podium serves as a central gathering point, inviting pause and hosting events and performances. The Atelier, also in wood, the preferred material for the studio, overlooks the courtyard and functions as an elegant library showcasing the catalogue of materials and finishes.
The commitment to honouring the atmosphere of the original building while crafting elegant and distinctive spaces is evident in AMDL CIRCLE’s design approach. Careful consideration is given to the selection of materials, finishes, and furnishings, all of which contribute to the creation of inviting settings conducive to fostering human connections and encouraging shared experiences. Wood elements, including parquet floors, the Atelier, and the podium, aluminium, earth-toned walls, exposed ceiling installations, and raw steel vases are embraced for their authenticity, while some technical solutions, such as textile sound-absorbing coatings, contribute to creating a warm, welcoming, and homely atmosphere.