Acafè is located at th monumetal entrance to Rome's Termini statio.
This position ensure a continuos stream of th many thousands of travellers who transit on the station's platforms. The project was commissioned by Autogrill s.p.a. and has the objective of taking a step away from the the concept of the traditional bar, creating a symbolic space that can catalyze the travelers attention and act as a place of rendezvous.
The bar has been designed as a C- shaped strip that detached from the ground floor and the mezzanine section, and acts as the counter, structure and ceiling.
In order to achieve the essential esthetic and functional qualities DuPont Corian was used for the architectonic structures.
The monolitic structure of the bar creates an architectonic space of great impact and combines performance with design: the support strip actually houses the air conditioning an lighting system; moreover, the compact non porous material used in the construction produces a pleasant surface that is resistant and hygienically compatible with these busy are.
The counter is the element that attracts attention from the central gallery of the station, and attracts the clients inside by generating curiosity_some visitor examine the construction in its entirety. Thanks to the flow of the layout, the spatial volume defines two areas and accompanies the clients according to the refreshment needs, and the amount of time to be whiled away. In a a structure such as this, the speed of transit of the travelers conditions the sales activities, the long counter measuring 24 meters provides facilities for a quick cup of coffee, and a moment of relaxation in the area equipped with tables that are completely immersed in the station's crowds, between the large book store and the ticket counters. This feeling of spatial flow and uniformity is provide by the white color of the various materials, Corian for the structural part, glass painted on the underside for the vertical coating, laminate for the tables, wood for the chairs and leather for the stools; brushed stailess steel ha been used for all the technical components and fittings. What result a neutral monolithic shell dominated by contrast between glossy and opaque surfaces.
The graphics are an integral part of the architectonic project:these depic human silhouettes and allow the existing wall in reflecting laminate to be trasformed into an indicator which directs the people towards the restaurant located on the mezzanine floor.
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