Romanengo confectionery in Milan by Cousi Interiorismo project Design 29.03.2023 The oldest Italian pastry shop has opened a new cafe in Milan — with interiors invented by Madrid architects Cousi Interiorismo Photo Romanengo Since the opening of the first confectionery in Genoa in 1780, Romanengo has been using fruits and flowers for sweets that are made entirely from natural seasonal products. In their cafes, they work by hand in the old-fashioned way and use original recipes of the XVIII century for desserts, for example, for chocolate-covered clementines or mint fudges. Photo Romanengo Cousi Interiorismo designers needed to find a balance between traditional and modern elements of three different areas of the confectionery: the spice department, the cafe counter and the tea room. It was a difficult project in which it was necessary to combine different eras — the famous past of the company and modern urban life. “First it was necessary to determine the details that would demonstrate the corporate identity of Romanengo confectionery. We have identified three key elements: tradition, nature and manual production. Our goal was to reflect them in the interior, while preserving the modern approach and the fashionable spirit of Milan,” explains Alba Hurlé, co-founder of Cousi Interiorismo. Photo Romanengo Custom-made lamps and architectural details, such as arches and moldings, refer to the theme of manual labor. For decoration, traditional Italian materials were used — marble, oak and brass. The beauty of wood and stone is set off by the dark green color in which most of the confectionery is painted. The architects supported the motif of nature and famous floral desserts in prints on wallpaper, ceiling lights and upholstery. Photo Romanengo “When planning the space, certain difficulties arose,” explains designer Alicia Martín, “There are three independent spaces separated by a courtyard, and each of them is used in its own way. We had to work with color, lighting and materials to preserve the perception of the three spaces as a single confectionery, giving each of them its own character.” Photo Romanengo Photo Romanengo Original content from the site