Derring-do

Milan: the historic apartment an architect has dreamt about (and reimagined) for herself

Words Silvia nucini — Photos Mattia Aquila

Sonja Vizzini first visited this fine 18th-century palace in the historical center of Milan to visit a boutique. She didn’t buy a thing, but did fall in love with the vacant apartment upstairs, and decided to make it her home: 250 square meters, with original decorative features, including an immense Barovier & Toso chandelier made for candles, not bulbs. Vizzini is an internationally acclaimed architect with offices in Milan, Monte Carlo and London. To renovate the house, she began by imagining the spaces in relation to her

own needs. With a sure touch that takes its cue from the existing context, she has painted the anonymous wood floors at the entrance with an antique finish. In the studio where she designs fabrics – «the quietest room in the house» – an existing bookcase from the 1950s becomes the main feature. She has created an all-black convivial kitchen, but without a table, because «I grew up with the idea that one dines in the dining room, even when alone».

There are two dining rooms, actually, with a closet space between them that can also host a service table at mealtime. The spaces can all adapt to changing needs. «Flexibility is fundamental, also in my projects for clients. Desires change, even with the progress of the seasons. In summer we enjoy different textures and colors, both in clothing and in decor. I always design two covers for the sofas, two different sets of curtains». Besides this versatility, the most striking characteristic of the apartment is its quiet softness. «A home should not be like a showroom; it should be a profound expression of identity».