From cinema to architecture: discover Bar Luce in Milan

The aesthetics of American director Wes Anderson are so striking that many critics consider his filmography to be a unique genre in its own right. For film buffs (and/or art lovers) who want to experience what it feels like to be in one of the young master's films, Bar Luce , located in the Prada Foundation in Milan, is the ideal place.

Designed by Anderson, the bar replicates the vintage atmosphere of the 1950s, with colorful furniture, wallpaper and pinball games. The films Miracolo a Milano by Vittorio De Sica and Rocco ei suoi fratelli by Luchino Visconti, both belonging to the Neorealist style, were inspirations, as well as the iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

While it might be extremely tempting to film a movie there, Anderson says the process of creating a real-life location that will be used by many people is very different from designing a set. For the filmmaker, it was essential that Bar Luce be a pleasant place, suitable for conversation and good coffee, even if that meant sacrificing some of the meticulous symmetry seen in films like “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Despite this, those who visit the Prada Foundation say they feel like they are on a set, eating pastries in a typical Milanese bakery.

See one of the director's works below: