A visit to a metropolis such as New York, Shanghai or Tokyo is made even more fabulous when you dine in a restaurant within a skyscraper. It's almost a requirement to complete the big city experience. In a sophisticated urban environment where pockets of greenery mingle with steel and glass buildings, a retreat that hosts fine dining provides a delicious experience marked by the polished appeal of cosmopolitan life. The new restaurant concept by 3-Michelin star Da Vittorio, DAV, is located on thefirst floor of the Allianz Tower designed by Arata Isozaki andAndrea Maffei within the Citylifecomplex. It has transformedthe old Milan fairgrounds into a new part of the city withskyscrapers, residences and alarge public park.

The floor where it is situated used to accommodate an officespace with an outdoor terrace. For its current incarnation, it was converted tohouse the first venue in Milan of the three-Michelin starrestaurant Da Vittorio in thenew DAV concept, designed fora younger, more metropolitanaudience.

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy. Andrea Martiradonna

The plan of the tower has twocores and a long rectangularspace in the center, glazed toward the terrace. On the northside is the restaurant kitchen,on the south side is the guestreception, and the central spaceis devoted to the restaurantstarting with an initial cocktailbar and then following the longglazed facade to the outdoorterrace.

Ground plan of Ristorante DAV by Andrea Maffei Architects. Drawing by Andrea Maffei Architects

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All the architectural spaceswere designed with the samefinishes so as not to separatethe areas, but to give the idea ofa single fluid space that unfoldsas it follows the client to thetable. The main architecturaltheme consists of a longwooden paneling, composed ofpyramids that rotate in variousways resembling fractals. This wood paneling extendsconsistently on one side of therestaurant and becomes theleading theme of the project,serving as a backdrop to themain room. Grazing lights from above emphasize its geometricpatterning with shadowsand reflections, all the wayto the kitchen. The panelingalso covers the doors to thebathroom and to the technicalshaft to make them disappearinto the geometric design.

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy. Andrea Martiradonna

The floors are walls in the restof the restaurant is covered inLaminam’s Pietra piasentinastoneware in a light graycolor that defines a neutral,textural base. In addition tothe bar counter, there is ahors d’oeuvres counter and a glassed-in pizza box whereclients may see how food isprepared. Chefs are in fullview as they create dishesand become a spectacle forcustomers. All counters arecovered with light gray pleatedThala stone to continue the ideaof a cold gray base on whichthe textural warmth of thecherry-colored paneling is set bycontrast.

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy.Andrea Martiradonna

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The design includes lightingconcentrated on the walls and onthe tables. The setting is softerand more metropolitan, andthe focus is on the tables. The clientrequested that the ceiling be allserviceable to access the fixturesfor maintenance. Its design follows the windows and doors withlong dark gray wood laths. Aseries of slanted laths definesthe shape of sound-absorbingpanels that can be easilyremoved to do maintenance.The laths are coupled at pointswhere adjustable spotlights are provided for concentratedlighting on the tables.

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy. Andrea Martiradonna

The large outdoor terrace is therestaurant’s other backdrop,through the long windows ofthe Allianz Tower. It includesan additional cocktail and horsd’oeuvres bar in the center, withthe same Thala stone finishesas those in the restaurant.Tables and seating are arrangedaround the bar, following the progression of the greenpools that create the terracelandscape. Large roll-up curtainscover the outdoor spaces duringthe summertime.

Andrea Maffei Architects, DAV Restaurant in the Allianz Tower in Milan, Italy. Andrea Martiradonna