A private residence between memories and cultures
Private residence, Milan
2023
Henri Fantin-Latour once wrote: “People are painted like flowers in a vase… but what about interiority? The soul is like music playing behind the veil of flesh. It cannot be painted, but it can be made to be felt.”
Revealing and “making felt” the soul of the homeowners — starting from memories and roots — became the starting point of the project.
Art lovers with a shared passion for the aesthetics of the 1960s, the owners envisioned a space capable of reflecting both their passions and their personal histories: he grew up in Venice, she in Morocco, now united in Milan.
The apartment required a narrative that could match the richness of their identities. Through the exploration of shared references and cultural differences, a hybrid and coherent language was developed, capable of representing both personalities.
Targeted layout interventions improved spatial flow, while the fusion of classical architectural elements with a sophisticated and vibrant palette defined a contemporary atmosphere. Colour becomes a structural element, in dialogue with art, craftsmanship and design. The furnishings emerge from a métissage of objets trouvés, private collection artworks and antiques, composing an intimate narrative of the owners’ identities. Craftsmanship appears throughout the space: from the painted iron glass partition to the calcite azul backsplash, from the Moroccan-inspired vanity to blown glass lamps and mirrors. The result is a space that does not replicate styles, but translates personal histories into a unique, intimate and deeply authentic language.
