A mid-century apartment nested in the earth of Milan is renovated to contemporary standards for a large family through sliding walls and flexible spaces that allow for both private and communal life

Located a few steps from Da Vinci “Last Supper” fresco, at the very center of the city and with expansive views of the city, this exclusive apartment was renovated to accomodate the needs of a large family looking for both formal entertaining areas as well as functional everyday spaces. As for typical mid-century upper class apartments, the floor plan had a strong division between living areas (sitting, dining) and service areas (kitchen, laundry, maid room).

The intervention aimed to open up the space and maximise the views of the city and a fluid circulation between the various areas, creating a flexible space able to change continuously during the day, allowing for both privacy and shared family life.

The main space is a large, sun-filled living/ dining room that though sliding marble doors is directly connected to the kitchen, but that can still be separated for formal hosting. Similarly, the old service area is turned into a dignified guest bathroom and storage room. In addition to that, a

practical home office was created to allow for moments of privacy for the family

The wall surfaces are treated as canvases that hide storage, sliding walls, or as background for the family antiques collection. Marble and wooden details recall the history of the building and create a scenographic series of perspectives, accompanying the eyes from the entrance to the dining to the marble island of the kitchen, in an interrupted game of variegated textures.

Project information and credits:

Design: Quarta & Armando

Design team: Lorenzo Trucato, Michele Armando, Gianmaria Quarta

Client: Private

Location: Milan (Italy)

Built area: 200 sqm

Completion: October 2022

Photographer: Beppe Giardino

ceramics: Tagina

kitchen: Arredo3

fixed furniture, tables and chairs:

Devina Nais

sofas: Samoa