Milan Home Serves as Art Museum

Lazzarini Pickering Architetti’s latest project, Casa Museo, is a hybrid residence and exhibition space in Milan. The building, a former early-20th-century silversmiths’ workshop, has been reworked to meet the needs of collectors Ettore Molinario and Rossella Colombari.

The architects’ brief was to create “a single large fluid environment: domestic, exhibition-oriented and theatrical at the same time.” This goal is achieved through a spiral design that originates from a single circular gesture. They worked to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Two open circles with offset centers set the geometry in motion, creating unexpected sightlines and fluid movement.

The double-height volume contains a mezzanine with living quarters, reached by twin staircases and a suspended gallery. Original columns and portals have been preserved and reimagined as theatrical wings, framing domestic life across a series of interconnected rooms.

Walls, shelves, and balustrades serve as display devices for the owners’ art collection. A conversation pit, stairs, and walkways are designed to fold together, creating a contemporary cavea for hosting cultural events, much like a cultural blend of different styles.

New skylights and an open wall that leads to a patio allow Milanese light to flood the interior.

Despite the dramatic design, the building’s foundation is steady and responsible. By working within the existing structure, the architects reduced embodied energy and waste.

Sustainability and Efficiency

The building’s design takes advantage of passive light to reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day.

According to the architects, “We sought a balance between openness and protection, between monumentality and intimacy.” This balance is evident in the final product, which is both unshowy and considered, much like the design of some hotels that prioritize simplicity and elegance.

The result is a building that is made to be lived in as much as it is meant to be looked at. Casa Museo is a space that embodies a sense of balance and harmony.

The building’s natural light works together to create an ideal environment for the collection housed within.

It is a space.