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Architecture

The Little Black Book of Milan

We asked natives and lovers of this grand city, colleagues and acquaintances, for their favourite places.

Let them show you around their Milan.

New places built with a greater sensitivity to both the environment and the quality of life are springing up, such as the stunning Bosco Verticale, two enchanting residential towers designed by Stefano Boeri, it has created a new green architectural oasis in the heart of the city.

When you live, work and travel here, you often do not realise the changing shape of the places and architecture. However, when you stop for a moment and look around it turns out to be quite extraordinary. What is happening in Milan is invigorating, and encourages you to explore and discover it.

Other spaces have been renovated, creating new areas in which to wander and enjoy, like the Prada Foundation, designed by Rem Koolhaas’ studio OMA in an ex-distillery. And of course there is the classic Milanese lifestyle encapsulated within Villa Necchi Campiglio.

Anna Morelli
Founder & Editor in Chief
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01 Villa Necchi Campiglio

Via Mozart, 14
20122 Milano

A grand Milanese affair

For many, Villa Necchi Campiglio is a refuge from the city’s excesses, for the unjaded among of us, it is the very essence of it.

It was created in the 1930s as the playpen of the en vogue, jet-set. It’s a lesson in the limits of marble (there are none) and the intoxicating power of a heavy wooden sweeping staircase. The backdrop to legendary parties and movies (almost upstaging Tilda Swinton), it oozes a sense of occasion, instilling a sense of being utterly under-dressed.

Hidden away, Villa Necchi is easily, but should not be, missed.

Sven Baacke
Head of Design
Gaggenau

“It’s inspiring to understand the mindset of the Necchi family and how that infused not only the attitude towards the architecture but also the way social life took place in the Villa.”

Sven Baacke

02 Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli

Viale Pasubio, 5
20154 Milano

Design to inspire

An imposing glass and concrete structure, its monolithic tendencies are subverted by a decidedly mischievous angled transection and end point. While all architecture aims to have an intellectual and emotional effect, that is literally this building’s job.

Architects Herzog & de Meuron’s made this for a world class research think tank. Looking out from the library, reading room, classrooms or cafe, you get that ‘CEO’s corner office feel’, an intimate sense of the possible. This high ceilinged, glass and stone echo chamber does not intimidate, it empowers. And serves a fine espresso.

Peter Goetz
Managing Director
Gaggenau

“For a building of this scale to still make the humble human occupant feel special and inspired is an exceptional achievement.”

Peter Goetz

03 Torre Gorani

Via Brisa, 731
20123 Milano

History, just lying about

Via Brisa is a cobblestone walk through Italian history. Stroll brazenly through colourful Emperor Maximian’s imperial palace, beneath a towering leftover of a Medieval Palazzo, under a bombed archway and into the future: a redeveloped open, sculptured space. This being Milan, it’s all overlapping and butting against each other, historical eras squabbling for your attention.

The highlight is the bright white courtyard, filled with locals taking a coffee and cigarette break. Follow their lead, look up and enjoy the crisp white lines of the modern high-rises contrasted with the overflowing rooftop gardens and lemon trees of the traditional homes.

Nicolò Panzeri
Photographer
Parallelozero

“It is a perfect example of harmonic integration. Past and present. The city is evolving while still playing homage to what was there before. It’s a kind of archaeological path in the heart of Milano.”

Nicolò Panzeri

04 Casa Rustici

Corso Sempione, 36
20154 Milano

20th century Modernism anyone?

The description ‘affordable, liveable, housing complex’ does not do justice to the architect Giuseppe Terragni’s masterpiece. Casa Rustici is two buildings united by balconies. It is both open and complete. Its joyous frontage is not just architecturally a breath of fresh air, it was based on innovative number crunching of the size of the plot and build volume. Flair meets data. A celebration of horizontal lines, with horizontal window formats and filigree loggias, the exposed courtyard and modern thinking was at odds with the conventions and, more importantly, building regulations of the time. So what we see today is the tenth design that was submitted, however I see no compromise, only perseverance.

Hendrik Müller
Managing Director
1zu33 Architectural Brand Identity

“In contrast to taking photographs, when you draw you analyse buildings for proportions, geometry, and many other things, and in this way you can at least partially recreate the design processes of your ancestors.”

Hendrik Müller

05 Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro

Via Torino
20123 Milano

Isn’t every miracle a mirage?

This is a church turned up to 11. It puts you at peace and instils the fear of God into you all at once. Generations of craftsmen have created eye-watering beauty. The ornate frescos and sheer, blinding, gilded spectacle of it all makes it a place to find yourself, and the lie.

This grand 15th century church, a classic crucifix shape, another massive edifice to the glory of God, turns out to be all these things, and less.

I’m not going to spoil it for you. Bramante, rock star architect of the age, has left a 500 year old trick for you to marvel at, enjoy.

Erica Sagripanti
Brand Communications Manager
Gaggenau

“It’s so peaceful, beautiful and impressive, and then it astounds you all over again!”

Erica Sagripanti

The Little Black Book continues