Restaurant Eataly, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Client needs

The order came in at the end of December through Avolta (formerly HMS Host) with a tight deadline of opening before the summer holidays. Normally a permit application at Schiphol alone takes 2-3 months, thanks to the long-standing cooperation between INTOS and Schiphol and the importance Schiphol itself attached to a new hospitality concept at this location, the approval process went exceptionally fast.

This project was the first time Avolta outsourced the entire main contracting package. It lacked the capacity to complete it within the stipulated time, which is why the request came to INTOS. Cooperation was through Avolta, which was in constant contact with Eataly in Italy.

Challenges

The biggest challenge was undoubtedly time. From application to completion sat just seven months, including permit process, design, engineering and full realisation. This required not only speed but also exceptional coordination between all disciplines involved: steel construction, plumbing, electricity, tiles, climate control, sprinklers and custom furniture.

Due to the short lead time, several parties were working on the same square metres at the same time. This made high demands on planning, flexibility and mutual coordination.

“Our fitters put in extra hours, worked through the night and showed great commitment to delivering the project on time - something we look back on with pride.’- Wim, project manager INTOS

Alignment with multiple stakeholders

Eataly is a franchise concept where the Italian franchisee has a lot of influence on the design and appearance. To ensure the franchise identity, every detail - from colour to material, layout to lighting - had to be fine-tuned. Schiphol then checked that the final design met their requirements. This was a careful process with multiple rounds of approval, during which we ensured that the authentic Italian identity was preserved within the airport setting.

A particular challenge was coordinating with different departments within Avolta. During design discussions, we regularly sat around the table with four to five people: someone responsible for the concept, someone for maintenance, someone for operations and a start-up manager. These parties did not always agree among themselves, which meant INTOS played an advisory and mediating role.

Our experience and technical knowledge enabled us to think along proactively: what is feasible, what is practical, and how can we combine the architect's design with the restaurant team's operational requirements? For example, we took into account the workflows behind the counter, the dimensions of crockery, the placement of refrigeration equipment and accessibility for maintenance.

As with any Schiphol project, fire resistance and safety play a crucial role. All materials had to meet the airport's stringent requirements.

Our approach

As main contractor, we coordinated all disciplines and suppliers:

• Steel construction - For the eye-catching canopy above the sales counter
• Plumbing and air-conditioning - Air ducts and technical installations
• Electricity and lighting - Including the atmospheric, warm lighting so characteristic of the restaurant
• Wall structure - Where necessary, we erected new walls
• Tiling - The floor was fully tiled
• Sprinklers - In cooperation with Schiphol
• Refrigeration equipment - Supplied by Avolta, but integrated by us into the furniture and walls
• Custom furniture - Fully customised by our in-house team

In terms of communication and planning, we fine-tuned when which supplier, could work where and made sure everyone was in the right place at the right time, crucial in such a short timeframe.

From design to realisation

We worked closely with Eataly Design's Italian architect to translate the design into a feasible and practical concept. Our team actively thought along: what can be done, what cannot be done, and where are smart solutions needed? A great example of this is the inverted roller shutter. One of the displays had to be lockable at night for security; a traditional roller shutter at the top would take up 12 to 13 centimetres of space and disrupt the desired open view. In consultation with the supplier, we came up with a solution: a roller shutter that rises from below. This was unusual but technically feasible. The result? A safe, lockable display that looks open and inviting during the day, without visitors noticing anything of the technical solution behind it.

Alignment and flexibility

Because we come from practical experience ourselves, we understood what was needed for the project to succeed. Our project leader was regularly on the construction site himself, helping where necessary and making sure the team felt supported. We took into account the restaurant team's operational requirements, the architect's aesthetic vision, Schiphol's technical requirements and Eataly's brand identity - a complex puzzle that we put together with patience, experience and skill.

Delivered result

The end result is a beautiful restaurant that takes visitors straight to Italy. The warm colours, the atmospheric lighting, the combination of natural materials and greenery but also the striking canopy above the sales counter create an intimate, welcoming atmosphere, despite the eight-metre-high hall in which the restaurant is located.

The canopy plays a crucial role in this: it provides a sense of security and ensures that guests do not feel lost in the large space. The lighting has been carefully designed and contributes to the warm, inviting experience. The whole place looks like a showroom but feels homely and accessible at the same time.

Present at the opening on 14 July were Eataly representatives from Italy, including the person responsible for design and concept. All were very pleased with the result.

“The trust Avolta placed in us by outsourcing the entire main contracting package has been rewarded with a successful project, delivered on time and as expected. Follow-up projects are now in the pipeline - a nice confirmation of the cooperation.”

“What are we most proud of? On the whole. On the speed with which we realised this project, on the cooperation between all disciplines, and on the commitment of our team. It was not an easy job - multiple parties on the same square metres, tight deadlines, extra hours - but we succeeded. And that makes it all the nicer.”- Wim, project manager INTOS