A compact 32 sq m gelateria in Vinovo, Italy, has been transformed by CGF Design into a characterful retail space where bespoke detailing, flexible display and brand identity are central to the design.

Italian design studio CGF Design completed the interior design of Gelateria COOL.TO in Vinovo, near Turin, creating a highly distinctive environment within a relatively compact footprint.

Designed by architects Valentina Pelizzetti and Marco Gini, the project was conceived to create a strong visual identity for the gelateria, using architectural details, materials, colour and lighting to establish a recognisable environment around the product.

At the heart of the scheme is a feature display wall, where a series of shaped frames references the form of traditional savoiardi biscuits. Reinterpreted as a contemporary architectural motif, the repeated forms extend across the wall to create a strong visual backdrop for the gelato display.

The wall also incorporates a flexible display system made up of small rounded metal panels. These can be inserted, removed and repositioned as required, allowing the display to be adapted as flavours and product selections change. The result combines a practical retail requirement with a strong decorative element.

The counter continues the rounded design language established on the feature wall, with matching forms used across its cladding to create continuity throughout the interior. A backlit decorative motif adds another layer of detail, helping to make the counter a focal point within the compact space.

Elsewhere, shaped mirrors are used to enhance the sense of space, reflecting light and colour throughout the interior. Integrated display niches within the wall panelling provide additional space for products, packaging and objects, while contributing to the overall visual identity of the gelateria.

The result is an interior in which the functional requirements of a small food retail environment are closely integrated with the design concept. Rather than relying on branding as an applied element, CGF Design has incorporated the identity of COOL.TO into the architecture and bespoke furnishings themselves.