Koà, Kitchen Open Air

The integration with the park together with the search for lightness, transparency, luminosity and conviviality guided the project by Vittorio Grassi for a new canteen

Designed by the the Milan-based studio Vittorio Grassi Architetto & Partners for the Zambon Group, the new canteen Koà, Kitchen Open Air is the first step to the development of the "Centre of Excellence for innovation and technological research" called Open Zone, in the Municipality of Bresso, in the Park Nord of Milan. The building, which overlooks the future "Gardens of Science", will also provide a proper food culture and fit in the discussions of 'Expo 2015", that is going to be housed in Milan on the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.
The canteen, which is spread over a gross area of 750 square meters divided on one level elevated above the share of the country, can offer 220 seats and can serve up to 600 meals a day.

The building is developed on a square plan of 30 m per side for a total height of 6 m on ground level. The North, East and West facades are made of extra-white double glazing mounted on slender steel frames to allow lightness and transparency of the building and to ensure continuous open views towards the park. The front of the kitchen block facing South is made, as the top of the building, with a double skin in white opal glass. This solution is studied to hide the technical area of the kitchen and spaces for staff from the outside views and at the same time to create a buffer zone that works as a heat accumulator during the winter and as a shield to direct sunlight during the summer.

The new canteen for Zambon Group can offer 220 seats and can serve up to 600 meals a day

The interior is divided into four functional areas. The public main room for dining and events covers about half the surface of the entire building and adopts transparent partitions in order to let the bar area open throughout the day, regardless of the kitchen opening hours. The rest of the building is taken by the technical block of toilets and bar storage, the food preparation and storage area, designed to accommodate a staff of 10 people and covering about a quarter the size of the building and the food distribution area, which is designed for a "free flow" service with an open kitchen and cash counter near the entrance to the dining room.

The North, East and West facades are made of extra-white double glazing mounted on slender steel frames to allow lightness and transparency of the building

The facades of the dining room and bar are open to external wood terraces with outdoor tables to create a visual link with the landscape, while the roof, overhanging 3.50 m above the entrance and towards the park, shades the exteriors and reduces the incidence of direct sunlight on the facades.
The flat roof is built with a light structure supported by steel columns surmounted by circular skylights that spread natural light in the inner areas of the dining room, making it luminous and comfortable.

The realization of the canteen is the first step to the requalification of the entire Zambon Group area, which will mark a huge urban transformation for the Municipality of Bresso

The roof, overhanging 3.50 m above the entrance and towards the park, shades the exteriors

In the evening the opalescent facade and the lintel of the restaurant can be lit by multicoloured strip LED devices transforming the building into a bright iridescent object, which communicates the mood of happenings and events through different light effects.
The finishing and furnishing of the dining room and bar have been designed minding to simplicity, eco-friendly and recyclable materials such as glass, steel, antibacterial and anti-pollution porcelain tiles, stools and chairs in natural wood.

The flat roof is built with a light structure supported by steel columns surmounted by circular skylights that spread natural light in the inner areas of the dining room

Project: Vittorio Grassi Architetto and Partners
Design team: Vittorio Grassi, Chiara Domenici (Partner responsabile di progetto), Cédric Lodewickx, Lorenzo Bozzini, Valdo Canepa, Marco Monti, Gustavo Belmonte
Structural Engineer: Favero e Milan Ingegneria Spa e Studio Lucarelli Associati
Services Engineer: Digierre 3 srl
Site Manager: Studio Lucarelli Associati
Health & Safesty: Proj-eco srl
Photos: Enrico Cano
Client: Zambon Immobiliare Spa
Gross floor Area: 750 m²
Land Area: 1000 m²
Contract Value: 1.500.000 Euro
Project date: 2009 start; 2011 end

The public main room for dining and events covers about half the surface of the entire building and adopts transparent partitions

Koà, Kitchen Open Air

The integration with the park together with the search for lightness, transparency, luminosity and conviviality guided the project by Vittorio Grassi for a new canteen

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