Aesthetic atmospheres

A corner of Japan in Milan Porta Nuova – Maurizio Lai designed the restaurant IYO Aalto, the second owned by Claudio Liu, in collaboration with Poliform. The 320 square meter space unfolds in a path made up of striking perspectives and cuts of light. “I liked the idea of a fluid environment, where the eye is free to wander, without seeing what’s on the other side” – tells the architect, scenographer and designer Lai. The two main parts of the restaurant are the sushi counter, which recalls the magic and rigor of Tokyo’s edomae zushi format, for a few close friends, and the gourmet restaurant, that blends the huge heritage and traditions of the land of the Rising Sun, with contemporary expertise and a creative focus. “The organization was dictated by the restaurant’s floor plan, made of two separate areas connected by a corridor, by workplace regulations and study of the workflow. One area is almost entirely taken up by the 40 m2 open kitchen, the other by the actual dining area, comprising the sushi counter and the 38 cover fine dining restaurant. I didn’t want to use blind partitions between the bar and the dining room, so I went for a modular glass system to divide the space. I played with volumes on an emotional level: when you walk into the restaurant, the space seems compact, then it appears to expand thanks to the hanging float glass panels. Once you enter the dining area, the ceiling looks higher. But it’s an optical illusion, the ceiling is actually the same height throughout.” The contribution given by Poliform Contract is eveident right from the custom-designed entrance with floating glass sheets and smoked mirrors that make the space seem wider, in a play of infinite transparencies and reflections. Once entered you are welcomed by a light installation and a desk, made of flamed gray-green porphyry and brass, which with its organic shape, opens a dialogue between shape and material that continues throughout the room. Canaletto walnut and porphyry are the main materials used. The non-continuous walls mark and delimit the spaces without ever completely isolating them: like the majestic, central partition made of ‘split’ porphyry slabs. This is new design approach for Poliform, a perfect mix between custom-made architecture and furniture supply, including standard chairs. www.poliform.it www.aalto-restaurant.com