At Fondazione Prada a new restaurant overlooks an unknown Milan

“A collage of pre-existing themes and elements”, so Rem Koolhaas defines the restaurant located in the new “Torre”of the Fondazione Prada, which opened on May 9, 2018. Eighty-four covered, the environment is arranged on three slightly staggered levels to create an ideal belvedere. The room is located on the sixth floor and occupies an area of ​​215 m2 divided into two areas: the bar and the restaurant. The two rooms are characterized by the contrast between the large floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer an unprecedented view of the city of Milan, and the warm tones of the parquet, the walnut wood paneling and the hemp panels that cover the walls. The bar has a central counter, with a bottle suspended with spirits and international liqueurs, where it is possible to have a cocktail and a light dinner. On the left is a fireplace surrounded by Soviet armchairs and Eero Saarinen’s Tulip tables. In this environment there are two works - Cappa per caminetto (1949) and Testa di medusa (1948-54) - by Lucio Fontana, while the polychrome ceramic Pilastro (1947) by the same artist introduces to the restaurant hall.

The first two are furnished with wooden tables and Executive chairs by Eero Saarinen and feature a selection of paintings by William N. Copley, Jeff Koons, Goshka Macuga and John Wesley. The last level features original furnishings from New York's “Four Seasons Restaurant” designed by Philip Johnson in 1958 and elements from the installation by Carsten Höller The Double Club (2008-2009). Inspired by the tradition of the Italian restaurant, the walls feature artist’s dishes created for the Torre da John Baldessari restaurant, Thomas Demand, Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg, Elmgreen & Dragset, Joep Van Lieshout, Goshka Macuga, Mariko Mori, Tobias Rebherger, Andreas Slominski, Francesco Vezzoli and John Wesley, part of a series open to new contributions. The triangular outdoor terrace overlooks the urban space and features porphyry paving and metal grills that are characteristic of the exterior of the Prada Foundation. The surface of 125 m2 is divided into a restaurant area with 20 seats on bistro-style folding tables and chairs and in a bar area where sliding tables along the parapet are made up or split according to needs. The Torre restaurant’s gastronomic proposal includes an authentically regional menu while desserts range from the great pastry classics. A prestigious selection of wines, made up of Italian and international labels, completes the offer.