There’s something about a Milan apartment renovation that refuses to treat a floor plan as settled. Atelierzero, the studio founded in 2013 by architects Piermattia Cribiori, Stefano Grigoletto, and Alessandro Triulzi, has built a reputation on that kind of refusal. Their work blends traditional craft with contemporary materials, aiming for what they call a balance of beauty and honesty. The project, called That Z Show, is a strong example.
A corridor reimagined as the spine of the home
The 155sqm apartment got a complete overhaul.
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Rather than just refreshing what was there, Atelierzero tore out the existing fragmented layout. In its place: a fluid, open domestic layout organized into distinct functional zones without a single dividing wall. The result is two connected units—a main unit and an adjacent studio—designed for family and guests while keeping a unified aesthetic across both areas. The conceptual move that drives the whole project is the reimagining of the main corridor. Instead of treating it as dead circulation space, the studio recast it as the home’s central axis—a portico-inspired passage defined by bold color and graphic flooring that commands as much visual attention as any room. On one side, it opens into the heart of the home; on the other, a long custom-built cabinet conceals utility spaces and connects the two areas. It’s an elegant bit of spatial thinking: turning the in-between into the most memorable part.
The thinking here is subtle—making a hallway feel like a destination without overdoing it. The corridor uses strong color and a patterned floor, but it doesn’t scream for attention.
It just earns it.
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Each zone gets its own material identity
Warm tones and natural stone and timber appear throughout.
The kitchen functions as a freestanding architectural volume, acting as a visual and spatial anchor between the study and dining area. The living area is conceived as an intimate raised boudoir, furnished with B&B Italia pieces and layered with CC-Tapis rugs and Flos lighting. The master bedroom is refined and luminous, complete with a walk-in wardrobe and generous en-suite.
It’s the kind of detail that rewards attention.
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The adjacent studio picks up the same color used in the central passage for its central utility core—a deliberate gesture that stitches the two zones together conceptually while keeping them functionally independent. Some designers might worry that a bold hallway would overwhelm the rest of the home, but here it anchors the whole plan without stealing focus from the rooms it connects.
The result is a home that feels larger than its square meters. The passage isn’t just a passage—it’s the organizing principle. And that’s a quiet kind of achievement in a renovation world often obsessed with open plans and blank slates.
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