carlo ratti’s robotic bartender mixes drinks on a milanese rooftop

a new robotic bar overlooking milan’s iconic cathedral has opened. located on the rooftop of luxury hotel TownHouse duomo and called the view by makr shakr, the bar is the perfect venue to enjoy drinks made by MIT professor carlo ratti’s robots.

video by jane bobkova
images by marco beck peccoz

founded by carlo ratti, makr shakr is the world’s leading producer of robotic bars. for the milanese rooftop, the robots have been specially modelled on the gestures of italian dancer and choreographer marco pelle from the new york theatre ballet. the robots, which are available for purchase or for rent, combine the finest italian craftsmanship with high-end technology and elegant finishes.

milan’s robotic bar features two mechanical arms that can precisely prepare and serve any drink in seconds. they can shake, stir and muddle with co-ordinated, dance-link movements more than 150 bottles of different spirits hanging from the ceiling of the bar structure to create an infinite array of drinks.

‘industrial robots are going to change the global workforce, but many people have never had the opportunity to see them – let alone interact with them,’ adds carlo ratti, founding partner of CRA-carlo ratti associati firm that designed the system. ‘our motivation is in creating novel opportunities for people to interact with new technologies.’

project info:

name: mark shakr robots

design: carlo ratti

company: mark shakr

bar name: the view by makr shakr

bar location: TownHouse duomo hotel, milan