Residential
2020
230 sqm
Private commission
Photo by Michele Discardi
This renovation project involves the conversion of a 230 square metre apartment in Milan, located in a 1950s building. Originally two separate units, the apartments are now connected to form a single open-plan living space.
One of the apartment's standout features is the abundance of windows, which not only flood the interior with natural light but also offer expansive views across a large terrace that extends around the entire apartment.
A key design decision was the choice of black lacquered window frames. This choice serves two main purposes. First, the black frames emphasise the industrial character of the apartment and enhance the raw, modern aesthetic created by the micro-cement flooring. Secondly, they frame the exterior views in a bold, eye-catching way, creating a stark contrast with the natural light and the outdoor space beyond. The black frames draw attention to the expansive terrace and city views, making the windows themselves an architectural feature.
The project is designed to honour the building's mid-century roots while introducing a modern, simple aesthetic that meets today's living needs. The open layout and seamless flow are central to the design, making the most of the apartment's generous space and natural light.
In this renovation, the architects combined contemporary, customised design with the building's architectural heritage, creating a home that is both timeless and forward-looking.
The architectural vision for this renovation focuses on creating a fluid, continuous living experience. To emphasise the sense of openness and freedom of movement between the different areas, we opted for a single material for the entire flooring: microcement. This choice is intended to unify the space, blurring the boundaries between the living, dining and kitchen areas, and reinforcing the connection between the interior and the surrounding terrace.
In addition to the seamless flooring, the materials used for the furniture were carefully selected to complement and contrast with the industrial feel of the microcement.
Walnut wood is the centrepiece of the apartment's main areas, including the kitchen and service rooms such as the bathrooms. The warm, rich walnut tones provide a tactile and visual counterbalance to the more industrial aesthetic of the flooring. The goal was to create a simple, modern touch that would nevertheless give the rooms a feeling of warmth and comfort, forming a welcoming contrast to the rawness of the microcement.
