In Milan, in a cozy atmosphere, bathed in soft light evoking the chiaroscuro of Caravaggio, we enter an open kitchen and a library with high ceilings. This almost celestial calm recalls the Milan of yesteryear, that of those bourgeois apartments where gardens and interior courtyards were hidden behind gates out of sight. These buildings steeped in history, having withstood the ravages of time, embody a certain art of living. It is within this framework that this project falls, that of the collaboration between Romeo Ruffini, son of Remo Ruffini, CEO of Moncler, and the interior architecture agency Gilles & Boissier, founded in 2004 by Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier.
In the living room, the custom Centaure sofas and Delphes armchairs are by Gilles & Boissier. On the left, the painting Christ's Last Day by artist Julian Schnabel. In the background, between the windows, the work Candle Dragon by Robert Nava, 2019.
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
In the living room, against a backdrop of intense green, high windows flood the room with light.
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
In the private garden, the outdoor furniture is in aluminum, Collection 1800 (Tectona).
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
For architects, this project is intended “classic, Parisian-inspired, with a friendly atmosphere, intended for sharing”. As Patrick Gilles relates, “Romeo arrived with a very specific idea, showing us two photos of traditional Parisian apartments.” Twelve months of restructuring work were necessary to bring this idea to life and transform former offices into a luxury apartment. One of the major challenges concerned the ceiling heights: in the common areas, they reach 4 to 4.5 meters, while in the master suite, the dressing rooms and the bathrooms are around 3 meters. Covering an area of 300 square meters, this apartment designed for a single occupant opens onto a polished Ceppo di Gre marble doorframe, a tribute to traditional Milanese floors. This material, like a breadcrumb trail, is found throughout the corridor, decorated with identical frames. The floor is covered with Versailles parquet, lined with black Saint Laurent marble plinths.
In the entrance, the mirrored wall and ceiling give depth to the corridor, while an arch marks the passage to the living spaces. Two large glass partitions with two doors with patinated dark brass uprights and hammered handles provide access to the kitchen or library.
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
The bedroom is accessed through a dark cedar wood door. The headboard of the custom oak four poster bed is in satin walnut. On the marble bedside table, a Lascau lamp in travertine and paper lampshade, all (Gilles & Boissier).
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
A long corridor leads to the imposing living space, while the sleeping area, comprising two bedrooms, occupies the opposite wing of the apartment. Every detail, from precious materials to refined textures and warm nuances, contributes to total harmony: “Everything is designed so that the space is revealed in its entirety at first glance”underlines Patrick Gilles, thus evoking a continuity which creates a feeling of conviviality desired by the owner, passionate about music and one of whose wishes was to install a DJ mixing table in the center of the living space. “We wanted to create a timeless place, an intact capsule of a bygone era”concludes the architect, evoking the Milanese interior courtyards whose moving memory remains, subtle and persistent.
Adaptation Aurélia Piperno
In the living room-library, the materials are identical to those in the kitchen, in order to create harmony between the spaces. In front of an oak sofa and coffee table (Gilles & Boissier), a golden hemp stool by Christian Astuguevieille.
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
In the living room, behind the custom-made sofa (Gilles & Boissier), the DJ mixer is in Ceppo di Gré marble. On the wall, a sculpture by the artist Mathieu Nab.
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
In the kitchen, the island, splashback and hood are in Patagonia quartzite. Circé bar chairs and Eclipse brass pendant light (Gilles & Boissier).
Photography: Simon Watson / Director: Francesca Santambrogio
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