Breaking bread – Il Circolino Del Pane by Davide Longoni

Nestled in one of the factories of the former industrial neighborhood of via Tertulliano 68 is a refreshingly new cozy place in Milan – Il Circolino Del Pane (The Tiny Circle of Bread) by Davide Longoni, created in collaboration with Italian designer Astrid Luglio.

Un luogo delicatamente matto (a tenderly foolish space) – it’s a new eclectic venue for Longoni’s panificio (bakery) but more than just a “shop”. 

“There’s an old adage that says don’t eat too much bread before meals. Luckily for me, though, it’s advice I’ve never followed!” Longoni fondly shares, keeping one eye on the past and one on modernity.

An intimate architectural and conceptual hub suitable for hosting small groups, tastings, dinners, cooking and ceramic classes – it’s a laboratory for researching and experimenting, a living room for conversing and a table for discussing and exchanging. 

It’s effortlessly designed to feel at home, build spontaneous relationships, connect and explore the sensibilities of bread harmoniously weaved together with design. 

It’s where fresh ideas are born – with the magic of mother yeast, the smell of freshly baked bread, the song of the crust lingering on.

Beautifully standing out – the timeless cream-colored metal kitchen is the heart of this place and its main feature. 

Minimal with clean straight lines influenced by Italy’s industrial heritage, spacious and custom-made with attention to intricate detailing by the Italian firm Very Simple Kitchen – it embodies a central smoothly rounded island that functions as a table as well. 

Alongside it, there’s a wall-mounted block together with a kitchen chest on wheels, which is the reinterpretation of an ancient “madia” conceived exclusively for leavening, kneading, storing different types of flour and comprises a warm wooden cutting board.

Additionally, the alluring kitchen counter is made of tiles of cotto variegato lombardo – a traditional technique utilized with a “contemporary recipe” by Luglio and produced by Fornace Riva which seamlessly mixes clay of different colors (white, light blue and red that’s collected from river Lambro’s gravel) in a way which instantly reminds one of the gestures of bread making. 

The elegant home appliances, that have been provided by Frigo 2000 I High Performance Kitchen, are of the Swiss brand V-ZUG and equipped with patented professional cooking features. 

Flour and clay, bread and terracotta. The one-of-a-kind product collection lastly crafted by Luglio and Fabio De Capitani inspired by age-old customs and dedicated to home baking includes – a jug for water, kneading container, yeast basket, cooking bell, small bread warmer, an embroidered canovaccio (cloth) as even dough needs care.

Eye-catching and intriguing – the communication and graphic project is further curated by Gianluca Cannizzo, aka Mypostersucks.