The new Casa Italo lounges designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti aim to provide a fluid, high-tech space for travelers on Italy's new high-speed rail network. Cassina Contract supplied all furnishings and finishes. Boeri sees high-speed trains as important for evolving urbanization beyond physical boundaries towards "link urbanism" connecting people and places through fluid movement.

1. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
01/architecture
photography by Getty Images
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury UK
Opened in October 2011, Canter- major touring productions has been three different widths, heights and
bury’s Marlowe Theatre – named completed in just two-and-a-half back angles to ensure an ideal view
after the Elizabethan playwright years. The original theatre, a 1933 and ergonometry from every single
Christopher Marlowe who was born former Odeon cinema converted seat. Other options include high
in the city – is, in the words of its to theatrical use in 1984, closed in backrests; tilt-up footrests linked to
architect Keith Williams, a very March 2009 and the demolition team the seat pan; individual removable
rare thing – “A new contemporary moved in the month after, with only seats; seats without armrests; usher
theatre within a magnificent historic some backstage areas retained. seats; and non-fixed chairs. The Mar-
cathedral city; its architecture is Construction of the new building be- lowe seats and backrests are based
clearly contemporary, yet it’s been gan in July 2009 and was completed on the design of the ‘Ascolto’ seat
conceived to fit comfortably within in September 2011. from the Gufram collection, which
its historic surroundings”. Occupy- was designed for theatres by Studio
ing a central site on the banks of Poltrona Frau Contract supplied and Gregotti Associati. The seat’s design
the River Stour with Canterbury installed 1,200 custom-made chairs provides an optimal ergonomic and
Cathedral nearby, the re-build of the at the Marlowe Theatre. The seats comfort experience for its users
region’s leading receiving house for come in several variations, with maximising the theatre experience.
www.pfgcontract.com

2. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
01/architecture
The Phantom Restaurant
at Opéra Garnier Paris
The Opéra Garnier’s first ever restau-
rant has opened in July 2011 and has
become Paris’ toughest reservation.
The architectural office of Odile DECQ
Benoit CORNETTE - Architectes Urban-
istes was assigned to the project after
a contest and the project was com-
pleted within the space of three years
(2008-2011). The Phantom restaurant
is located at the Opéra Garnier, more
commonly known as the Paris Opéra,
a 1,600-seat opera house on the Place
de l’Opéra in Paris, France, which was
the primary home of the Paris Opera
from 1875 until 1989. The grand build-
ing designed by Charles Garnier in the
Neo-Baroque, or “Baroque Revival”
style was and is regarded as one of the
architectural masterpieces of its time.
The name of the restaurant pays hom-
age to where “The Phantom” was
born. Architect Odile Decq of Odile
DECQ Benoit CORNETTE - Architectes
Urbanistes dealt with many constraints
during the design process; it was
forbidden to touch or alter the original
structure as the restaurant needed to
be “reversible”. All the facilities, piers,
mezzanines and equipment were
integrated into the site without alter-
ing the stone structure, pillars, walls
or ceiling. Working with such limita-
tions and standards applied to French
historic buildings was a challenging
but inspiring task, to say the least.
The design idea for this project is
based around creating a space that
will highlight the restaurant inside
the Opera Garnier, without mimicking
the existing monument, respecting it
whilst affirming its truly contempo-
rary character. Poltrona Frau Con-
tract supplied custom made seating
elements designed exclusively for this
Photography by: © Roland Halbe project by Odile Decq.
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3. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
02/design
“Suite” by
Space Cinema
Odeon Milan
For the first time in Italy, the Suite
movie lounge is realized in Space
Odeon Cinema, in the heart of Milan,
just a few steps from Duomo. The
Suite cinema lounge concept was
thought with the aim of creating a
private luxury movie theatre meeting
state-of-the-art aesthetical and tech-
nological requirements. The project
consists of a full floor of 300 square
meters divided in a multi-function
lounge area and a 32 seat VIP movie
theatre. Generous seating blocks
dominate the lounge area providing
maximum comfort with a full ser-
viced bar in an elegant environment.
Cassina has realized all the interiors
designed by Marco Bonelli of Bam
Design. The project was executed
in a “turn-key” philosophy. Every
little building detail was brought to
life by Cassina Contract. The walls
are upholstered with prestigious
damask fabric in the tones of orange
and gold complementing the dark
wood floors and dark lacquer furni-
ture with bronzed structure.
The reclining armchairs, specifically
designed for the project by Poltrona
Frau, are upholstered by pelle® Frau
and resistant to any type of impact.
This is a true premier for these cin-
ema chairs that were developed and
installed for the first time in a movie
theater in Italy.
www.pfgcontract.com

4. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
03/design q&a: Stefano Boeri Architetti
NTV – Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (New Transport for Travellers) Casa Italo
NTV is the first private operator on new type of service centre designed travel have changed radically. Today,
the Italian high speed rail network to help travellers in the form of a rail travel means undergoing a fluid
and the first operator in the world to fluid, high-technology space. experience in space and time, in a
use the new Alstom AGV train that continuous process from departure
currently holds the high speed train Cassina Contract is proud to con- to arrival that includes decisions,
record. The service will start by the tribute to this revolutionary project movement, periods of waiting,
end of 2011 with the name of “Italo”. by providing the fit-out and all FF&E and the journey time itself. Linking
for the 12 ‘Casa Italo’ lounges na- places, connecting people, fluxing
The project, which won a competi- tionwide in Italy. of information are the elements of
tion commissioned in early 2009 by a new kind of urbanization which
NTV transport company, originated Q: What is the importance of “high goes beyond the physical bounder-
from a concept created by the Milan speed trains” for the evolution of ies of architecture and concentrates
architecture studios Stefano Boeri contemporary urbanization? more on its immaterial qualities.
Architetti in collaboration with dot- High speed trains crontibute to the
dotdot. It is based on the idea of a A: Travelling and the speed of realization of a “link urbanism”.
www.pfgcontract.com

5. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
03/design q&a: Stefano Boeri Architetti
sa, in a dynamic environment that
is capable of changing according to
traveller requirements.
Q: Which design elements are
completely newly introduced to the
travel industry through Casa Italo?
A: The components that form the
uniform, straight-wall perimeter
of Casa Italo are part of an “alpha-
bet” of modular units which can
be used to create spaces with the
maximum flexibility, allowing for
future enlargement. Towards the
top of each unit there is the LED
Q: What would be your expected arrival and departure times without strip display that continues from
experience of a traveler in Casa Italo? having to enter the hall itself. Large the exterior face inside, creating
LCD monitors and ticket vending an element of visual continuity
A: Casa Italo proposes a new type of machines are included in this face between exterior and interior. The
traveler experience, where the servic- of the structure, and, along with the furnishing elements that complete
es centre designed to help travellers, red .Italo train profile, a large clock, the definition of the Casa Italo
in the form of a fluid, high-technology and a LED strip display, they enable interiors are designed in the form
space. Comfort, functionality and soft travellers to recognize Casa .italo of circular islands, around which
pragmatism are the main lines of its inside the station.For travellers who people can circulate freely: the
design: in which all the surfaces vis- need help, or a location at which to info desk (providing information
ible to travellers in transit are physi- spend some time waiting for a train, for travellers), relaxation armchairs
cally transformed into an interactive Casa Italo provides services and (seating units for personal use, or
and communicative interface that waiting areas inside. The space is for use by groups of people), and
defines the interiors within stations. enclosed by a multi-function, high- wifi tables (for online use, and for
Casa Italo is an open and extremely technology wall which continues the supplying electricity for personal
permeable concept. By means of flow of information supplied on the electronic equipment).
its interactive characteristics, it is outside wall, offering further servic-
a location at which the duration of es to travellers: ticket issue, informa- Q: Can you tell about how was your
travellers’ stay there is up to travel- tion on train arrival and departure, journey in this project with Cassina?
lers themselves and their individual interfaces for internet use, the dis-
requirements. There is a direct rela- tribution of magazines and leaflets, A: The carefull engeneering process
tionship between duration of use and fold-down seats, and litter bins. The of the furnitures’components was
the personalized spaces and services perimeter of Casa Italo includes, developed together with Cassina
dedicated to travellers. built into the thickness of the wall, Contract. The collaboration with
the technological systems for the the firm thanks to its established
To meet travellers’ requirements in various service units available. Prox- excellent knowledge allowed the
terms of speed, with a minimum imity sensors detect the presence of optimization of the production and
time actually spent in the station, people and change the function of the achievement of top quality levels
Casa Italo has an interactive exte- touch screen monitors, transforming concerning the materials and use of
rior space, which enables tickets simple information panels into auto- furnitures’elemennts in public and
to be purchased, and displays train matic ticket machines and vice-ver- higly frequented spaces.
www.pfgcontract.com

6. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
04/life&people
World Architecture Festival 2011 Barcelona
World Architecture Festival is the WAF 2011 was the most exciting present their projects to a panel of
world’s largest, live, truly inclusive yet with a plethora of seminars and esteemed judges.
and interactive global architectural keynote talks discussing the themes
awards program. It is a unique meet- of ‘disaster’ and ‘difference’ by 35 PFG Contract is a proud partner and
ing point for architects, suppliers and inspirational industry experts. An sponsor of the World Architecture
clients, attracting hundreds of entries exhibition of over 700 of the world’s Festival, as it perfectly reflects our
and visitors from all over the world. most exciting architectural projects close collaboration & relationship
The fourth World Architectural Festi- entered into the WAF Awards 2011 with the A&D community around
val (WAF), the world’s largest, inter- were on display throughout the the world. To know more about the
active architectural event, opened its week and visitors had the chance festival and the 2011 winning proj-
doors to more than 1,300 delegates to watch architects from Japan to ects please visit:
on the 2nd of November. Jordan and Netherlands to Namibia www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.
www.pfgcontract.com

7. no. 7/nov 2011
contract news
04/life&people
New Design for Cappellini
Milan Showroom
Cappellini is delighted to announce
the opening of a newly designed
showroom in Milan. While the address
is the same, Via Santa Cecilia 4, the
space, after nearly two months under
the restructuring art direction of Giulio
Cappellini, is completely new. This
follows on from the launch, less than a
year previous, of the Cappellini’s Paris
flagship store in St Germain.
Continuing the theme that each flag-
ship store has a signature monochro-
matic interior – blue in Los Angeles,
red in New York and purple in Paris
– the predominant colour of the new
store in Milan is yellow. Yellow is a
colour closely associated with the city,
from the famous trams to the old taxis,
from saffron risotto to the façade of the
buildings. In addition, it is a tone that
has always been part of the Cappel-
lini colour palette. The new interiors
have been redesigned to respond more
closely to the taste of today’s archi-
tects and designers.
True to the spirit of the company, Cap-
pellini hits Milan with a touch of magic
and innovation, making this unique
space a destination that is likely to
become a new city attraction in itself.
For this event an exhibition, “Homage
to Shiro”, named after Shiro Kuramata
who worked closely with Giulio
Cappellini, has been realized. The
exceptional pieces exhibited included
iconic products from the Cappellini
standard collection (such as Progetti
Compiuti, Revolving Cabinet and
Homage to Mondrian), as well as re-
productions of original drawings, rare
prototypes and the Dinah, a unique
project dating from 1970 that Cappellini
recently added to its collection.
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