Located on the ground floor of a historic building in central Milan, this renovation project transforms a formerly commercial unit into a smash burger venue defined by a raw, urban aesthetic. The intervention is structured around a clear spatial strategy, dividing the interior into two primary areas—public and dining—and a dedicated service zone. The main spatial intervention is the setback of the existing glass façade, rather than aligning with the building’s perimeter, the new glazed frontage is set back and realigned according to the internal geometry., thereby placing the entrance on direct axis with the service counter and establishing a strong visual and spatial connection across the interior.

Inside, the choice of materials reflects the philosophy of the brand: an urban and understated street food space built with concrete and stainless steel. The built-in furnishings are integrated into the design, rising as extensions of the floor: concrete block tables, benches, niches, and the counter itself are conceived as monolithic elements. Construction elements are intentionally left exposed, lending rhythm and architectural legibility to the space.

Stainless steel is inserted with precision into the joints of the concrete blocks, forming integrated surfaces—tables, seating, shelving, and workstations—that punctuate the space with industrial refinement. Above, a suspended system of polycarbonate curtains conceals lighting and mechanical systems while diffusing a soft, ambient glow. This visual gradient culminates in the open kitchen: a recessed, stainless-steel niche framed by translucent polycarbonate ceiling panels, establishing the kitchen as both a functional core and a luminous focal point.

Project SOLUM (Mattia Agates, Lorenzo Campagna, Filippo Gismondi, Alessandro Loda)

Collaborators: Gianmario Vecchiato, Giulia GrifoniPhotosNicolò Panzeri