Penthouse del Bollo

This project could be summed up in just one word: Milanesità, the characteristics of the Italian city of Milan. This very elegant penthouse combines the typical architectural and stylistic values of the city. The property is in one of Milan’s most exclusive residential areas, situated between the Stock Exchange and the Duomo.

From the terrace, all symbols of the city are immediately visible: Torre Velasca, Torre Littoria, Terrazza Martini and the Madonnina del Duomo. The outdoor area and the view from the penthouse are in fact the features that made the owners fall in love with it in the first place and to which the architectural studio has paid the most attention.

The studio took care of the entire restructuring of the apartment, from all the architectural aspects through to the wardrobe handles. However, it is the terrace and the roof structure that are the most remarkable parts.Initially, the owners approached the architects for a solution, having previously lived in a very large apartment in the city and now wanting something more central and more appropriate to them. Their children had grown up and moved out, and therefore size had become less important to them – more important instead was the feeling of being “out there”.

The architects Sacchi and Gambigliani of Studio Luini therefore turned the internal logic and distribution of the apartment on its head, moving the fantastic custom-made Boffi kitchen with black surfaces to the attic floor level and creating a second intimate and elegant living room, almost a fumoir for a select few.

From the main living room in the eighth floor you can go up even further. The staircase to access the terrace is also black-lacquered and custom made and it is being positioned in such a way as to make the most of the spectacular views. On the first landing, the user’s gaze is guided towards a surprising view of the Madonnina del Duomo, framed by an amazing ribbon window. Turning round, still excited by the view, they see the other side of the super penthouse which seems to float – there is no wall but instead a single sliding glass pane which can be fully opened. 

And so the dream comes true – a penthouse in the city centre with a green terrace that seems endless. Everything, from the original parquet from a turn-of-the-century chalet, to the lighting controls, the frameless windows and the upholstery of the armchairs, has been studied and designed with a subtle guideline: elegance, discretion and class. Once again, Milanesità. The project palette encompasses warm tones with natural materials as protagonists, with wise touches of colour and art as a counterbalance.

Form is combined with function, and when visiting the apartment you can perceive exactly what the owners wanted: their own peaceful oasis in the middle of the cityscape. Being able to relax and do yoga at sunset surrounded by fragrant plants, while still being at the heart of Italy’s most dynamic city. Rarely does a restructuring project manage to deliver these results. The recipe for success was the collaboration of the project team and suppliers, and the precise demands of the owners. A living room that extends onto the terrace or a terrace that extends into the living room? There’s no answer, there’s no boundary. Inside is outside.