CAAA by Pietro Catalano

The CAAA restaurant in Lucerne merges gastronomy, design, and technology into a unique dining experience. Located beside the Impulse Gallery in Lucerne, Switzerland, it is designed as an inhabitable sculpture engaging all senses. Inspired by the snow-covered Alps, the restaurant features a ceiling made of custom 3D-printed organic pieces that mimic the flowing curves of snow-capped mountains, creating an atmosphere akin to an enchanted snowy landscape illuminated by a warm sun. Spanning 85 square meters and accommodating up to 16 diners, the interior design is dominated by a white color palette that enhances the snowy mountain effect. The 3D-printed ceiling envelops visitors in a landscape reminiscent of freshly fallen snow, softened by warm sunlight. This luminous cavity reproduces the chromatic effects characteristic of snowy landscapes, transforming the restaurant's atmosphere. The ceiling’s structure is based on computationally analyzed morphologies of snow-covered surfaces, creating an illusion of reversed gravity where snow appears deposited above diners’ heads. This design challenge contributes to the concept of a cave-like space, merging nature and architecture, providing a peaceful, cozy environment. This fantasy space blurs the boundaries between architecture and nature, aligning with Bruno Zevi’s concept of the zero degree of architecture—neutral, simple, and "white." As an extension of the Impulse Gallery, the restaurant merges contemporary art installations with immersive dining experiences. Every piece of furniture is custom-designed, inspired by the serene tones of the mountainous climate and forests. Ash wood, chosen for its resemblance to delicate tree branches, is used for chairs and tables. The monochromatic and neutral color palette creates a delicate atmosphere, enhancing the chef’s culinary creations without overshadowing them. Cellulose, a sustainable biomaterial, is the main material used, chosen for its environmental benefits and excellent properties for 3D printing. This cellulose-based material, derived from wood waste residues, is biodegradable and capable of storing CO2. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in the restaurant’s design. Tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion were used to generate images from text, helping visualize conceptual ideas through language. This process involved generating multiple images of a snowy roof to refine the initial concept. The AI-generated visualizations guided the design of the ceiling’s undulations and color scheme, creating a feedback loop that enhanced communication with the computer until the desired result was achieved. Parametric design tools were used to transfer the ceiling’s morphology into digital models. This process included multiple trials and morphological experiments using simulation software, resulting in a final digital model that was both human and AI-influenced. The ceiling’s surface was divided into 63 modules for easy printing and assembly, with a 5 mm gap between modules to allow air conditioning passage.