A stripy wall of light glows behind diners at this Milan restaurant by Italian architects Roberto Murgia, Fabiola Minas and Simona Oberti.

The dining room is located at the offices of law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, who will also use the space for functions and exhibitions.

Thin strips of oak create the vertical bands across the illuminated wall, which comprises layer of both clear and translucent glass.

Paintings by Korean artist Minjung Kim decorate the wooden panels that line the remaining walls, while white tables and chairs furnish the room.

Randomly placed skylights create a pattern of bright rectangles across the ceiling, which are reflected in a white marble floor.

Two other interesting interiors we've featured at law firms are a translucent faceted waiting room and a corridor lined with individually CNC-milled parts.

Photography is by Giovanna Silva.

The following words are from Roberto Murgia:

Multipurpose Space for Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

In a 1960’ Gio Ponti building right in the centre of Milan, the international law firm CGSH has expanded its existing offices, developing a multipurpose space in the basement of the building.

The main challenge of the project concerned the lack of direct sun light and the need to ensure appropriate sound and thermal insulation. Hence, the idea of realizing an external “light box” made of glass, with a wooden functional ring on the inside, so to leave out the existing structure and plants of the building. The outside structure defines the different rooms, serves as wall unit and creates roof-lights in the ceiling, that serve as vertical lighting system. The warm light coming from the roof-lights balances the cold light of the lighting wall where a wooden diaphragm filters and modulates the light.

Opposite the main entrance is the lighting wall, realized with two glasses, one opal, the other transparent, with thin plates of solid natural oak on the inside. The internal wood ring is made of framed wood panels, spaced by overhanging solid wood planking. The floor is a “battutto alla veneziana” from Fantini made of white lasa marble.

Great care has been paid to the environmental comfort, with special onsite productions to optimize the sound insulation and the light control with pre-set lightening scenarios depending on the intended use of the space.

The space can be used for multiple functions, such as conference and videoconference, cinema, restaurant and other dining events, and as a space for the exhibition of the art collection of the firm. In the pictures the work of Minjung Kim, ac renowned Korean artist.

The furniture is from MDF, the tableware from Bourulec for Alessi, the table furniture is from Ittala. A separate independent room is also included in the project.

Designers: Fabiola Minas, Roberto Murgia, Simona Oberti
Location: Milano, Via San Paolo
Country: Italy
Completion Date: 2011
Client: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Floor Area: 300 Mq

Design Team: Filippo Weber, Valentina Ravara
Lighting Design: Rossi Bianchi Lighting Design