Sandì

Restaurant, Via Hayez 13, Milan

The interior design project for Sandì Restaurant originates from a close dialogue and collaboration between the designers, the owners, and the craftsmen involved. The project was conceived to minimally alter the spaces while maximizing the value of the inherent characteristics. Like in a culinary recipe, the goal is to bring out the fullest expression and enhancement of the local ingredients. In this sense, the project contrasts with the contemporary trend of over-designing restaurant spaces, focusing on the content rather than the container.

For instance, only two walls were partially demolished. One, which separated the dining area from the kitchen, was transformed into a new weak and opaque filter, which, like a small kiosk on the sidewalks of our cities, can open up to the public for fast service. The wall is designed with brushed steel and smoked polycarbonate, creating light plays and a sense of see-through between the preparation and service areas. The second demolished wall is replaced with a dense curtain, which, like a theater curtain, creates a small private room with a large round table at its center.

A counter serves as a hinge between the different levels and spaces of the restaurant, aiming to create a niche on one side and open up to the public on the other through a high table on wheels for preparation and service. The counter becomes a structural element in the design, incorporating a staircase, its handrail, and a railing. A green marine granite characterizes almost all the newly added and designed elements: a footrest, a threshold, a counter, and a shelf.

The project, made of simple architectural elements, aims to create a first platform for the restaurant’s basic functions, leaving room for flexibility and future additions.

 

Interior design: Parasite 2.0

Manufacturers: Bianco67, Qubo Design, Frigerio Tende

Project Mediation: Bianca Felicori

Clients: Laura Santosuosso, Denny Mollica

Ph. Claudia Zalla