THE DINER
By David Rockwell
By David Rockwell
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Surface, a leading American design magazine, at Salone del Mobile in Milan, I produced THE DINER — a contemporary take on the all-American iconic restaurant — from A to Z: location, day-to-day management, and full on-site execution.
Designed by superstar architect David Rockwell, the space was built in an abandoned World War II tunnel under Stazione Centrale, lacking electricity, running water, or toilets. I transformed it into a fully operational kitchen and restaurant, serving a full diner menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, alongside events, talks, and parties — to over 40,000 guests.
The Diner won the Milan Design Award for Most Engaging Installation and garnered praise from CNN, Dezeen, Architectural Digest, and more.
