Milan: a Milanese residential building entrance conceived as a welcoming atrium

The entrance and internal garden of a stately Milanese building are redesigned to provide a filter and a transitional element between the city and the individual residences. The project transforms and enriches the reception spaces while remaining faithful to their heritage and context. It is said that Milan reveals itself slowly, through the richness of its hidden gardens and celebrated entrances, which contrast with the sobriety of the facades and represent an emblem of comfort and decorum.
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The entire ground floor is conceived as a promenade, a path where spaces are articulated in a dynamic sequence, each with its own identity and focal point. The objective is therefore to rationalize spaces and flows, ensuring different levels of privacy. The entrance is extended to the entire footprint of the building, and the different height levels are used to enhance the tripartition of the space, assigning a specific function to each area and marking different degrees of intimacy.

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The first area, accessible from the street, also serves as an entrance to the garden, discreetly framing it and allowing its center to remain protected. The staircase gently guides the visitor, offering a backdrop of rich, lush vegetation, and allows for a frontal approach to the concierge reception. From here, the concierge can welcome residents heading to their apartments or invite guests into the lounge area. The three levels progressively move away from the street both in height and visually: planters and a fountain are articulated as a filter that carefully frames the entrance, screening the frontal view of the staircase and completely protecting the waiting area.

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Warm tones and colors make the space bright and airy; the original wooden panel is preserved, and vintage tiles introduce color into the space through an irregular surface that plays with light. The travertine floor ennobles the environment, introducing a texture that enriches it with discretion.