The management of IL CENTRO, the shopping mall just outside Milan and one of the largest in Europe, made the most of the forced closures and never stopped planning. They implemented a development plan for the mall to meet the evolving needs of their customers.
The newly designed food court is a functional space featuring social and work-friendly areas surrounded by greenery, capable of surpassing the 6 million annual meals served before the pandemic began.
“IL CENTRO is a place to experience. The sensory element is essential, and with this new restyling, we’re able to deliver on that,” says Francesco Ioppi, HEAD OF REAL ESTATE at the Finiper Group. “The design of the new food court at IL CENTRO is a successful example of integration between food and shopping experiences, and it significantly contributes to the mall’s profitability. The area dedicated to dining and personal activities—whether work or study—has become strategically important for us to continue offering maximum comfort to our customers. We expect to consolidate its high performance and are confident that in the short term, we will exceed pre-COVID success levels.”
The new spaces, designed by Progetto CMR, an integrated architecture and engineering firm, are inspired by the urban nature of IL CENTRO’s original concept.
Massimo Roj, CEO of Progetto CMR, explains: “The food court completes the journey through the commercial galleries and builds its identity around the idea of urbanity—intimate and protected—leading to a central cloister. This space becomes a destination in itself, designed to welcome visitors with a functional layout that encourages a long and comfortable stay, even in terms of acoustics.”
Fabiola Minas, project leader at Progetto CMR, adds: “The courtyard is a place with strong identity and recognizability, created using light, open structures that respect the visual identity of the dining brands that face it. It’s an area where all the services offered by the eateries are easily accessible from all sides of the food court, with fluid, unforced, and barrier-free pathways.”
There are 500 seats available for customers in a completely new and original setting, designed for restful, well-being-focused, and functional breaks. The new food court was conceived for wide usability—for those who need a space for smart working, coworking, casual meetings, or studying—thanks to well-defined zones with excellent acoustic comfort that ensure privacy and peace.
Great care was taken in selecting construction materials and surfaces. In addition to complying with the strictest fire and safety regulations, the materials are durable and sustainable, and do not release harmful substances. FSC-certified wood, metal, and next-generation sound-absorbing fabrics—which cover the arch interiors—create a high-quality architectural aesthetic and ensure these spaces are enjoyable not only for dining but also for extended stays and business meetings.
Access and spaces have been designed to welcome a broad clientele—from families with strollers to individuals with reduced mobility—ensuring complete inclusion and the total elimination of architectural barriers. Each food vendor has also been assigned an island for waste sorting, encouraging proper and increased recycling.
The food court restyling confirms the continued presence of all the restaurant brands that the public has already shown a preference for, such as McDonald’s, KFC, Roadhouse, Dispensa Emilia, La Piadineria, and many more.
Compact yet airy, the new food area at IL CENTRO welcomes customers with pleasant, well-lit spaces, creating a unique environment for a direct connection with consumers. As shopping centers increasingly take on a socially significant role in their communities, especially in the wake of the pandemic, the re-evaluation of traditional offerings into new spaces focused on well-being and comfort is becoming more and more of a priority.
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