Parterre – a design studio born in Milan from the research of architect Flavio Terracciano – developed the interior design for Floating Panfuwa, the first Italian café dedicated to Japanese pancakes. The brand now boasts five active locations across the country, including Milan, Como, Rome, and Turin. The collaboration with Parterre began with the opening of the Turin store, located in the heart of the historic center, just steps from OMA’s Egyptian Museum.
The shared goal was to define a new design concept that could embody the brand’s identity and serve as a model for future openings.
The project explores a sober and contemplative aesthetic inspired by the principles of Japanese design, where nothing is overtly declared, yet every element subtly conveys a distinct cultural atmosphere.
The concept of fuwafuwa—a Japanese term evoking softness, lightness, and airiness—guides the entire design approach, from softened geometries to the selection of materials.
At the entrance, a counter clad in 41zero42’s Biscuit tiles welcomes visitors. Positioned frontally, it acts as an orienting landmark. Suspended above it, a large reflective ceiling element echoes the shape of the counter, elegantly defining the technical area while leaving the pancake preparation process fully visible—striking a balance between openness and control.
The dining area is immersed in soft, diffused light, created by backlit wall panels covered in washi paper—a natural Japanese fiber known for its translucency and tactility. These surfaces, framed and interrupted by wooden elements, reinterpret the visual language of shōji in a contemporary key, evoking a sense of threshold, filter, and continuity between interior and exterior.
Completing the sensory narrative is a display-installation featuring a framed tree rooted in a bed of raked gravel—an homage to Japanese zen gardens—inviting passersby to slow down, observe, and be intrigued.
For more information, visit www.studioparterre.it
CREDITS:
Project: Panfuwa TO
Design: studio parterre
Location: Turin
Year: 2025
Photos: Gianmaria Giardino
