Olivino by Not A Studio Wins Platinum at the A' Interior Design Awards

Not A Studio Receives Platinum A' Design Award for Olivino, an Industrial Hall Reimagined as Fine Dining

COMO, CO, ITALY, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The A' Design Award has announced Olivino by Not A Studio as a Platinum winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award is one of the highly respected international design competitions, recognizing thoughtful and innovative work within the interior design field. This recognition acknowledges Olivino as an outstanding example of good design, distinguished through a rigorous evaluation by a panel of design professionals, academics, and industry experts. The award positions Not A Studio among practitioners whose work meets considered standards of creativity and technical proficiency. Olivino transforms a former industrial exhibition hall into a Michelin level restaurant, demonstrating a measured approach to adaptive reuse.

The recognition of Olivino holds relevance for the broader interior design industry as adaptive reuse and heritage revitalization continue to shape contemporary practice. The project offers a replicable model for converting industrial structures into refined hospitality environments while respecting original architectural character. By preserving the steel dome, column-free volume, and iconic skylight grid, the design illustrates how spatial memory can be retained rather than concealed. This balanced transformation serves designers, property owners, and urban planners seeking sustainable methods for cultural activation. For diners and visitors, the result is an immersive environment where industrial rationality and culinary warmth coexist.

Olivino distinguishes itself through a strategy of dialogue rather than coverage. A circular glass revolving door was repurposed into a bottle-shaped wine cellar that functions as a spatial mediator, while a sculptural inverted copper stove anchors scale and circulation within the open volume. Custom metalwork, art paint finishes, handmade brick, and gold foil detailing were integrated with precise lighting coordination to maintain tectonic clarity. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing lines were concealed within upgraded roof assemblies to improve waterproofing and thermal insulation without disturbing the preserved shell. Natural and artificial light are orchestrated together, shaping an emotional container within the retained architectural framework.

The Platinum A' Design Award recognition may inform future directions for Not A Studio, reinforcing its focus on restrained architectural language and human-centered experience. The achievement offers encouragement for continued exploration of heritage revitalization and the careful reconciliation of industrial structures with refined function. As a practice-based spatial research effort, Olivino contributes a reference point for studios pursuing similar adaptive reuse projects. The recognition serves as motivation for the studio's team to maintain its commitment to thoughtful and considered design.

Interested parties may learn more about the award-winning design at the dedicated page on the A' Design Award website.
https://competition.adesignaward.com/ada-winner-design.php?ID=182117

About Not A Studio
Founded in 2016 by architect Gu Yi, Not A Studio carries out architectural practices both domestically and overseas. Based in China, the studio is led by Gu Yi, who brings 13 years of architectural experience in Africa, where he led and participated in projects ranging from national-level constructions such as hospitals and schools to a wide range of commercial spaces. His experience across diverse cultures has cultivated a strong perception of and empathy toward environments, subjects, and phenomena. Since establishing Not A Studio, Gu Yi has placed greater emphasis on creating human experiences that return to generosity, affinity, and warmth through a restrained and minimalist architectural language.

About Olivino Restaurant
Olivino is a Michelin level restaurant created within a former industrial exhibition hall, transformed through a strategy of dialogue rather than coverage. The project retains the original double-height, column-free structure and iconic skylight grid while integrating refined insertions such as a circular glass wine cellar and a sculptural copper stove to mediate scale and circulation. Natural and artificial light are orchestrated to shape an immersive atmosphere, allowing industrial rationality and culinary warmth to coexist within a cohesive spatial framework. The design upgrades insulation, waterproofing, and concealed services while preserving the artistic heritage of the original architecture. Olivino demonstrates a balanced transformation model that enhances user experience and offers a replicable approach for heritage revitalization and urban cultural activation.

About the Platinum A' Design Award Recognition
The Platinum A' Design Award is the highest accolade granted by the A' Design Awards, recognizing designs that demonstrate notable innovation alongside meaningful societal contribution. Designs receiving this designation are evaluated for their artistic and technical proficiency and their contribution to advancing art, science, design, and technology. Within the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category, assessment considers criteria including innovative use of space, material selection excellence, functional layout design, lighting design proficiency, sustainable design practice, cultural relevance, and attention to detail. Further considerations include color scheme mastery, ergonomic consideration, space optimization, accessibility standards compliance, incorporation of technology, and design longevity. Recipients are recognized for work that reflects a high level of professionalism and a commitment to enhancing quality of life through good design.

About A' Design Award
The A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award is a highly respected competition that promotes excellence and innovation within the interior design industry. It welcomes a diverse range of participants, including independent designers, leading interior design agencies, innovative companies, furniture manufacturers, and established brands. Entries are evaluated through a blind peer-review process, assessed against pre-established criteria by an international jury panel of design professionals, industry experts, journalists, academics, and designers. Organized since 2008 and now in its 18th year, the A' Design Award is an international and juried competition open to entries from all countries and across all industries, driven by a philanthropic mission to recognize and promote superior projects that benefit society and help create a better world. Interested parties may learn more about the A' Design Awards, explore the jury members, view past laureates, and take part with their projects at the following url: https://interiorinnovationawards.com

Makpal Bayetova
A' DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION SRL
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