A2BC Architects : Apartments A and B

In the historic center of Milan, A2BC Architects have completed a 2 apartment renovation project focusing on the themes of light and its relationship with space and materials, and the conservation of the historic elements of the sites using them as a point of departure for the design reflection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Apartment A – The focal point of the architecture is the entrance. Set on the symmetrical axis of the door and window, a staircase built of ash wood connects the entrance and sleeping area on the fourth floor with the living area on the fifth. With light, the clean form and softness of the material create a play of shadows and volumes that define the space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the risers of the stair, a wooden bookcase ascends from the landing to the upper level ultimately meeting the historic beam structure of the roof, creating a significant intersection. The contrast between the contemporary intervention in ash and the historic structure is one of the key design intents.

Photos © Giacomo Mulas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Apartment B – The spine-like existing brick wall, which runs through both levels of the apartment, was restored with all of its original arches and maintained to signify the stark contrast with the new floorboards and white plaster ceilings in RAL 9006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original bricks, iron of the furniture and cement of the staircase and floor are the key materials of the project. To break the lines, insets of wood and hand painted tiles were inserted in the floor running diagonally through the rooms creating transversal connections – Photos © Sergio Magnano