Plusminus adds a touch of colourful and functional design to the Merano 2000 cable car restaurant, Italy

The city of Merano, Italy, is nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of Southern Tyrol. Among its many tourist attractions, the Merano 2000 cable car is a highlight, transporting travellers from the town centre to a ski and hiking area situated at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Its striking red stations are visible from far off and reflect an architectural style that has become emblematic since the current, modern cable car replaced the previous one in 2010, after more than four decades of service.

Carried out by the biquadra studio the recently refurbished CUBUS restaurant within the mountain terminal retains the architectural identity of the ski-station building conceived by the architect Roland Baldi. Its solid nucleus constructed in exposed concrete contrasts with the wide expanse of glazing of the post and beam façade which creates an attractive dialogue between the structural solidity and the open transparency.

Regarding the CUBUS restaurant’s interior design, the practical requirements and new look of the updated gastronomic concept were adapted to create a stylish, dynamic and youthful character.

To do so the designers used a selection of furniture and light fittings that introduce a softer formal language, that intentionally breaks with rigidity of the original building’s architectural style. Material choices such as wood, felt and wool, are combined with concrete and metal, to create an interior ambience of organic warmth, where the colour palette plays a crucial role in the dialogue between these finishes.

In a nod to the characteristic red of Merano 2000, without directly copying it, the project instead reproduces different tonal nuances throughout the different restaurant spaces. The original timber flooring and ceiling lining were maintained throughout the establishment, creating a warm interior environment that promotes a sensorial wellbeing that is enriched by the extraordinary Alpine views. The furniture and the light fittings are among the elements that have been renewed lending the interior a fresh and contemporary feel. This tandem serves to frame the different groupings of seating whether it be individual high tables with stools, or tables catering to groups.

The choice of Plusminus fittings by Vibia, designed by Diez Office, reflects a new lighting concept design in the creation of cosy islands within different areas, playing with the versatile arrangement of the suspended belts to generate the visual dynamism required from a restaurant of this type, with such spatial diversity.

Furthermore, the materials used to manufacture these light fittings, such as textile and metal, “are a clear reference for us to the materials of the sports equipment being used outside the restaurant, for alpine skiing and climbing,” explains a source from the studio.

The choice of the Terra Red colour for Plusminus, both for the light track as well as the different spherical and semi-spherical light fittings that illuminate the tables and the stairwell, represents a chromatic homage to the emblematic station, whose cubic form inspired the restaurant’s name. The overall design objective was achieved thanks to the successful combination of materials and colour tones, which on the one hand reflect a sporty and youthful style, while on the other also add to the warm and cosy ambience that invites diners to let their guard down and relax while enjoying the food and the Tyrol mountain vistas.

Credits:
– Interior Design by: biquadra
– Architectural project by: Roland Baldi
– Photography by: Tobias Kaser