2022
ILLY MONTENAPOLEONE
MILAN
Right in the heart of the busy city centre, the famous Italian brand Illy Caffé inaugurated its renovated flagship store and Metis Lighting curated the lighting. The interior design is signed by another Milanese excellence, the Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel studio and the result was a new meeting point for the city.
The iconic red colour and the unique style of the brand were the main axis around which the interior design was developed. Light plays a gentle guiding role by enhancing these qualities or creating luminous features enriching the customer’s experience.
Pedestrian’s eyes from Via Montenapoleone are caught by the shimmering suspended cups installation. The Courtyard accomodates customers for an early coffee but also for a late drink due to its mellow atmosphere given by hidden light fittings in the shrubs and gracious wall lamps.
A custom designed suspension illuminates the Bar counter both directly and indirectly providing two layers of light. In the evening, indirect light is dimmed down and the whole mood changes. Backdrop shelves integrate light turning colourful bottles of drinks and spirits into a big scale lantern.
Light is also concealed into niches and shelves underlining Illy’s artefacts and mechandise in the indoor seating area and Gallery room becoming a story-telling tool for the brand’s identity. Especially in the Gallery, Illy’s historical logo becomes an elegant suspension with indirect light, another luminous feature.
Illy Café is not just another hospitality project, but its particularity lies in showcasing the brand’s story. Hidden within details or introduced inside custom lamps, light becomes a subtle guide for this multi-sensory customer experience, playfully setting contrast, brightness and colours from day to night.
The project was managed with BIM method since the beginning by all the consultants becoming another example of sophisticated design from every point of view. Made in Italy at its best introducing a new Milanese place to be.
