An innovative location in the city of Modena

Amber, a new concept venue located at the centre of the New Alfieri Maserati area of Modena, is a highly original and versatile project and the brainchild of four professionals with very different backgrounds: entrepreneur Filippo Bottura, chef Cecilia Montano, personal trainer Marco Farina and singer Benjamin Mascolo.
Drawing inspiration from the world of bees, the various spaces – Amber Fitness, Amber Café and Amber Lounge – explore the concept of well-being through sustainable cuisine and a way of life that maintains a sense of harmony with one’s body. “The pandemic has changed our way of living and triggered a paradigm shift in the world of catering,” explains Filippo Bottura. “During the lockdown, people came to realise the importance of personal well-being, they rediscovered the value of food and felt an urge to reconnect with nature. Amber invites its guests to rediscover a sense of balance – in food, in nature and above all within themselves.”
Amber Café is envisioned as a multifunctional space where customers can arrive in the morning for a remote working session and order a breakfast with hot pancakes or scrambled eggs. Breakfast is followed by a lunch-time menu offering well-balanced and nutritious meals, ideal for example after completing a sports activity.
The spatial composition is organised around a central counter that acts as a service hub and conceals the bathroom and kitchen area. Dining tables are positioned in two areas, one close to the entrance and facing towards the large windows and the second in a more secluded space inside. Last but not least, the outdoor area can be used in all seasons and gives guests the chance to retreat from the urban environment.
Architect Filippo Franchini described the steps that led to the stylistic choices: “We designed the outdoor space around the existing large olive tree, installed a large communal table and planted 200 jasmine bushes to create a space dominated by nature. For the interior furnishings we opted for artisanal products. These include the counter, which is made of hand-painted tiles in our brand’s colours, and the bathroom tiles with their powerful reference to nature and natural elements. We repurposed scraps of tiles left over from the bathrooms for use as table mats, underscoring the concepts of sustainability and circularity that apply not only to the food but to every aspect of the location. The choice of colours was an integral part of this philosophy, ranging from warmer amber tones through to a palette of greens and browns, but in all cases maintaining a reference to the world of nature.”
Ceramic tiles supplied by Gruppo Romani’s Cerasarda Custom division along with the Chromagic series from Cir Manifatture Ceramiche were used in accordance with the concepts behind the project. “The third-fire decorations covering the entire wall combined with coloured resin-effect surfaces give the room a natural, textured look that is reinforced by other elements such as the plants in the dining room and the plate decorations,” says the architect. “The patterns were custom made in our trademark colour palette and are a tribute both to nature and to the brand’s philosophy.”