SUBSCRIBE NOW
    • Homes

    This Milanese loft belonging to one half of Vudafieri-Saverino Partners is planned as an art and design museum

    JAN 27, 2021 | By Meghna Meduri
    Seen in the living room are a lit sculptural fixture on the left of the windows, Dora floor lamp by André Cazenave for Atelier A, a Gerusalemme sculpture by Aldo Mondino, and an Ettore Sottsass' marble and wood table for Ultima Edizione; Photographs by Santi Caleca
    The living space is bedecked with Lampe de Marseille by Le Corbusier, Clay Furniture bench by Maarten Baas,Spazio, an artwork by Thomas Houseago and a vintage drawer; Photographs by Santi Caleca
    The contrasting monochromatic colours are used as the visual language; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    This modern-day bourgeois casa is designed as both a place to live as well as a vessel of art that is key to its narrative. It belongs to Catherine Vautrin and her husband, architect Tiziano Vudafieri, who is one half of the Milanese practice Vudafieri-Saverino Partners. In Milan’s Porta Venezia area, this home cleverly mixes classic design pieces and contemporary artwork.

    The space is envisaged to reflect the intellectual curiosity of the inhabitants, while simultaneously instilling their love for arts into their surroundings. It accommodates the couple’s favourite (iconic and vintage as well as custom-made) products and art collection that have been stumbled upon, purchased and gathered together over the years.

    The 3,600 sq ft home is transformed into three gentle split levels. Its layout allows for seamless dialogue between spaces and a creative play on the relationship between storeys that are high and low. As a result, the floor plan is distinctly unexpected, packed with ingenious transition spaces and surprises. “An array of different places to spend time in,” Vudafieri explains.

    The kitchen is designed by Tiziano Vudafieri and realised by F.lli Bianchi. The Federico Peri chandelier is a prototype, while the 1962 Saddle chair is by Othmar Barth; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    The patio at the centre of the structure is a green oasis, complete with plants, wood and stone as well as the 1960s Danish fibreglass chairs by Flotötto and the Corallo armchair by the Campana Brothers for Edra. The living and dining areas are integrated harmoniously with glass partitions that act as visual bridges.

    The brick-red floor is offset by the green wall, and the room features Joann Tan’s Moschino mannequin-shaped lamp and the 1935 Berlin chair by Wagenfeld produced by VLG; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    Owing to the glass doors that led to the dining area and the patio, the kitchen is flooded with light and becomes an intimate yet social space. It is delicate and light, just like the Le Corbusier blue-grey colour chosen for the walls. The stairs, walkways and passages create a sense of dynamism and are developed as individual rooms oozing eccentric personalities.

    The early-20th century Murano pendant and 1960s table lamps illuminate a photograph from the Mourning series by Linda Fregni Nagler in the master boudoir; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    The master bedroom is a dusky, protective space with green walls and ceiling that create a sense of timelessness and correlates to the greens on the terrace and patio. Its decor expresses a sense of eclectic equilibrium and narrates both the past and present. 

    The Lebanon cedar wooden table by Fratelli Bianchi from Cantù is placed in the kitchen; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    The home is painted in varied colours—blue and red walls dominate the large central hub, lime green is used at the entrance, greyish blue in the kitchen, and green in the master bedroom. Additionally, the interiors are elevated with the help of three features such as the use of glass, abundant natural light pouring in and retention of original features such as the Catalan vaults that define the ceiling.

    View of the garden created by landscape architect Alessandro Nasti from the study, where a 1960s Flotötto chair sits; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    Art is the overarching theme of this home. The installed artefacts play a pivotal role in the design. Over the course of previous iterations of remodelling, the artworks have changed continually and have also been installed in line with Vudafieri’s concept of ‘eclectic equilibrium’.

    A series of oil paintings by French artist Vincent Ruffin are placed along the stairway and illuminated by a 1960s floor lamp; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    The home features a wide variety of designer products and artworks. Some of our favourites include an abstract canvas by Swiss artist John Armleder, a large rose by emerging Polish artist Marzena Nowak, a plaster frieze by Paolo Icaro, iconic designs by Luigi Caccia Dominioni, the black velvet Sant’Ambrogio sofas, and the LT10 and Porcino floor lamps by Azucena.

    A mirror by Giampiero Romanò is placed alongside a Naji Kamouche artwork; Photographs by Santi Caleca

    The brain-child of Vudafieri Saverino Partners’ co-founder, this home perfectly actualises the deep passion the couple share for art in physical form, while flawlessly infusing an eclectic identity to the space by drawing on narrative sensibilities.