Inside Casa Ideale
The exterior of Casa Ideale in Arles, France. All Photographs (including those presented on the home page) are by Laurent Giannesini
Those immersed in the design, art and fashion scene will know We are Ona: the theatrical, nomadic dinner party experience that has staged pop-ups during major international events since 2019. Founded by Luca Pronzato, a stalwart of hospitality who honed his skills at Copenhagen’s Noma, the creative culinary studio collaborates with some of the world’s most innovative designers and chefs, travelling to major cities: from Mexico City to Paris, Venice and New York. The immersive experiences are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. At Art Basel Paris in 2024, artist Carsten Höller and his Stockholm restaurant Brutalisten regaled guests with refined minimal dishes within a cavernous, disused warehouse at Gare Montparnasse. That same year, French fashion set and events designer Alexandre de Betak envisaged dinner in a Haussmann-style apartment mid-renovation: diners were surrounded by raw, unfinished architecture, turning the evening into a highly engaging live performance.
We are Ona also hosts immersive events for major luxury houses, including Chanel, Saint Laurent, Cartier and Alaïa – and, in 2022, it teamed up with chef Nadia Sammut to create a dining fantasy at Simon Jacquemus and Marco Maestri’s wedding in Provence, France.
Next month, it is staging another must-experience moment: its first pop-up hotel and restaurant in Arles, France, named Casa Ideale. Central to the experience is a photography exhibition, which will feature works selected from the Italian editor and gallerist Carla Sozzani’s archive collection, alongside a design furniture curation by Downtown+ and Luna Laffanour, which brings a new dimension and spirit to the space.
As one might expect, dining here is theatre: led by guest chef Gil Nogueira, a visionary Portuguese culinary nomad known for his bold cuisine rooted in sustainability and open-fire cooking. Nogueira previously led the kitchen at Paris's Le Grand Bain and earned a Michelin Green Star at Le Garde Champêtre in Champagne.
Casa Ideale
5th to 12th July
Villa Bank, Arles, France
Here and below are images of the photography exhibition at Casa Ideale, featuring works selected from the Italian editor and gallerist Carla Sozzani’s archive collection, alongside a design furniture curation by Downtown+ and Luna Laffanour
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