PAN deli
Small architectures to redefine the ritual of the urban pause
The architectural design of PAN deli emerges as the natural evolution of the aesthetic journey begun with the opening of the first PAN in 2023. Located within Pirelli 35 in the Porta Nuova area, designed by Snøhetta and Park Associati, the venue engages with a contemporary urban context by offering a neighborhood deli conceived for a fast-paced yet refined daily routine.
The primary objective was to preserve PAN’s signature suspended lightness without ever slipping into imitation.
The concept is articulated through the insertion of three small architectural devices that modulate the space into different areas of use, defining a fluid and dynamic narrative. Upon entering, guests are welcomed by the counter, the beating heart of the culinary offering and a constant visual reference point throughout the venue. Its cladding in fiberglass grating panels is transfigured, merging with the materiality of the concrete: an element that firmly anchors it to the floor while maintaining an iconic allure, almost suspended between substance and lightness.
Acting as a counterpoint to the counter are the birch plywood backdrops, fixed furnishings that break down the unified space while preserving an idea of continuity and spatial contamination. These volumetric wings blend naturally into the scenes of daily life: their simple forms accommodate a long bench and become supports for product display, fostering a warm and domestic perception. The vibrant structure of the backdrops plays with the alternation of light and shadow, while a metallic insert transforms into a handle to discreetly reveal the access door to the restrooms.
The atmosphere shifts toward a more intimate dimension in the seating area, where the site-specific lighting system evokes PAN’s noren and outlines a zone designed for slow and mindful consumption. In this setting, the natural light coming from the large windows is filtered and diffused, integrating with the dedicated artificial lighting system that enhances the softness of the environment. In a continuous interplay of connections, the kitchen also participates in the life of the venue, receiving indirect natural light thanks to a large frosted glass window that, when viewed from inside the dining room, becomes a lantern.
As in the first PAN project, references to Japanese culture remain subtle and never literal, operating on a deeper interpretative layer that privileges the quality of materials and the precision of detail. The result is a threshold-space where architecture places itself at the service of a renewed daily ritual.
