Location: Milan, Italy Year: 2026 Architects: GiB studio Photography by: Federico Villa
The apartment is located in a 1960s building in Milan. Its original condition reflected the needs, tastes, and materials of its time, along with a series of additions and alterations made by previous owners. A long L-shaped corridor with a sequence of rooms, combined with dark flooring and finishes, made the space dim and no longer suited to contemporary living.
Responding to the needs of the clients—a young Milanese family—the apartment was completely reimagined, giving ample space to the living area, the heart of the home, while reducing the sleeping quarters and service areas to the essentials.
The entrance, set back from the living area, leads into the living room, which extends across the full depth of the apartment and features large windows overlooking the street. Two exposed structural columns define circulation paths and sightlines from the entrance, while also creating spatial continuity between the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Natural light, reflected by continuous light-colored surfaces, floods the space and highlights its volumes.
The back wall has been designed as both a storage and decorative element, forming a backdrop to the living area. At the opposite end, the kitchen—with its central island—engages in dialogue with the surrounding space.
Two curved walls—housing the laundry room and walk-in closet—lead into the bedroom area. The sleeping area is separated by a full-height pivot door, which reduces the visual depth of the corridor and allows, when needed, the separation between the children’s area and the parents’ area. The corridor itself has been reinterpreted as a functional, equipped space; built-in cabinetry follows the geometry of the walls, incorporating both a window and the bathroom door.
Minimalist furnishings, “Old Milan” elements, and a color palette of beige and white come together to define the spaces and enhance their brightness. Particular attention has been given to materials and surfaces: the continuous beige Kerakoll resin flooring creates a neutral yet warm surface that extends throughout the apartment. Fixed furnishings are designed in chromatic continuity with the walls, with details and finishes that add structure and materiality.
A perfect backdrop for the owners’ passions: books, photography, and music enrich the bookshelves and the small study area. Text description by the architects.
