Designed by architect Antonio Ravalli in collaboration with INOUT Architettura for the landscaping, The PwC Gardens consists of a 3,000-square-meter green space that surrounds the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo and includes a multilevel park, an outdoor walkway linking various museum spaces to the exterior, and the newly opened Bù Bistrot in Carrara.
The PwC Gardens project revitalizes the historic area adjacent to the museum, situated at the foot of the Baluardo di Sant’Agostino and bordered to the north by the fifteenth-century Muraine defensive walls; the project revives 18th-century architect Leopold Pollack’s vision of seamlessly connecting the museum with the city.
The restoration of a former tool storage building has given Accademia Carrara a new feature in the form of the Bù Bistrot in Carrara. This space is designed for gourmet breaks during or after a museum visit, but it is also open to the public with independent access. Nestled within the greenery, the bistro serves as a meeting point where food, art, territory, and hospitality converge, with a creative interpretation of local ingredients that showcases the area’s identity. Pedrali’s furniture plays a key role in shaping the inviting atmosphere of Bù Bistrot.
Outside the bistro, guests can relax on the elegant terraces arranged across multiple levels, enjoying a captivating view surrounded by greenery, thanks to the comfort of the Nolita collection. Designed by CMP Design, Nolita is a family of outdoor seatings which recalls the origins of a historic course started by Mario Pedrali in 1963 with his first metal garden chairs. Chairs and stools, made with a steel tube frame, have been selected in neutral tones, blending harmoniously into the setting with their characteristic transparency and lightness.
The outdoor setup is completed by Concrete tables, designed by Pio & Tito Toso, featuring a solid base that conveys stability, along with Elliot tables designed by Patrick Jouin whose elegant silhouette and minimal design combine soft lines with sinuous natural forms.
Here find place Tribeca lounge armchairs and sofa designed by CMP Design, a modern reinterpretation of the classic Sixties patio chairs made from steel and woven cord.
Inside the bistro, Frida provides ideal comfort for convivial moments with their simple yet refined style, while Arki-Base desks, with their clean and modern lines, create a versatile and contemporary atmosphere. Made from FSC® certified oak wood, Frida stems from a careful study aimed at combining beauty, cutting-edge technology, simplicity and a love for details. The chair’s most extraordinary feature is the superposition of a three-dimensional curved plywood shell on a solid wood frame. The result is a sturdy yet extremely cosy chair marked by lightness and resistance. Frida is painted with water-based paints of plant origin, adding to its environmentally conscious design.
At the bistro’s counter, overlooking the lush gardens, the Brera stools add a touch of class, while providing an inviting spot for guests to enjoy a coffee or aperitif. Compact in size and ergonomically designed, these stools are made of solid oak, with a sinuous backrest profile that provides lightness and agility.
