“We prefer stores to be located in historical locations. But we also want to be modern destination. One step in the past and one in the future”. It is required by the Brand founder. The Italy-oriented brand devotes itself to heritage tiramisu recipe of generations, using natural ingredients without any artificial additives. But on the other hand, the business model is extremely modern, futuristic even-it’s an online-based pasticceria brand that are designed to be suitable for long-distance delivery meanwhile kept the taste quality. It is required to be represented “balance” in the store design.

The first concept store in Shanghai is located in one of the previous French concessions. The store itself is an architectural montage- a space that embodies the bridges between the authentic and modern, past and present, historical eras and cultures- literally divided into two. One side, straight stepping out from 20th -century Milan, richly ornamented woodwork, floored by dark brown terrazzo, concealed by the paneling, a montage harks back to subtle feeling of Milan post-modernism. The opposite side, designed in a modern appearance, is paved with pink terrazzo, pink bespoke wallpaper and illuminated ceiling highlighting brand’s idea.

The store represents the meeting of two worlds, connected by a sharp division line of two different color terrazzo, reminiscent of the art of terrazzo. Innovated in fifteen century’s Italy, different colors in terrazzo are made from different minerals added into the same base material. The same inspiration on the wall, the pattern of pink bespoke wallpaper illustrates the other Milan icon—-Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II，when dark walnut wood meets the pink bespoke wallpaper ¬, the true nature of the brand is made that clear: both temporally and spatially- which, gifted by generation heritage, does not shy away from any creation or combination.

The main goal of the project was to create a space that presents a perfect balance between contemporary and modern Italian cultures, which almost since when tiramisu was born after World War II. The result emerges an assemble of pink-velvet furnished sofas which take the shape from ladyfingers used in tiramisu recipes representing Italian modern design, combined with traditional Italian soul of the brand emphasized by walnut cabinets and marble counter. It gives anyone who enters the instant understanding of what I set out to achieve. It is very obvious the first moment you walk in.

The idea was based on many research and archives that our team have collected when traveling around the world. We have always admired and wanted to work with traditional Italian unique craftsmanship. While on the other hand, Milan-based post-modernism masters like Ettore Sottsass elegantly radical style was one of our biggest fascinations. While paying attention to his tribute and focus in design, we decide to commit ourselves into our own creation.

Designed by NONG STUDIO
Photography by Chasing Wang