BASE
Interior Design
2015 — 2020
Interior Design
2015 — 2020
BASE is a public cultural center housed in the former Ansaldo Factory, a building of 12,000sqm originally erected between 1904 and 1923 in the heart of the Tortona Design district in Milan.
In 1989 the complex became the property of Milan City Council who changed its function to cultural activities, communal working spaces, artistic residency, exhibits, concerts and lectures.
Following the change of functions the building underwent complete renovation between 2015 and 2016, then partially opened while continuing renovation until 2018.
In 1989 the complex became the property of Milan City Council who changed its function to cultural activities, communal working spaces, artistic residency, exhibits, concerts and lectures.
Following the change of functions the building underwent complete renovation between 2015 and 2016, then partially opened while continuing renovation until 2018.
For this project I was in charge not only of the interior design but also of determing the distribution of the general functions and look and feel of the place.
Starting from a study of functions and target public, I worked with the team of architects and engineers to develop floor plans, distribution, materials and lighting.
For the interior design I was entirely responsible of choosing mood, color schemes, materials, furniture and fixtures, down to the art direction of the final accessories.
Starting from a study of functions and target public, I worked with the team of architects and engineers to develop floor plans, distribution, materials and lighting.
For the interior design I was entirely responsible of choosing mood, color schemes, materials, furniture and fixtures, down to the art direction of the final accessories.
The lounge area on the ground floor - open daily till midnight - hosts events of all kinds but it is also home to many different people coming in daily to enjoy some quiet time, work, study, use the free wifi.
The space needs to be very flexible because of the different events it hosts yet it is conceived to have a daily set up that is cosy and welcoming, with a cafeteria open all day.
The space needs to be very flexible because of the different events it hosts yet it is conceived to have a daily set up that is cosy and welcoming, with a cafeteria open all day.
I chose furniture and lighting to make people feel home, through a combination of vintage, contemporary and made to measure pieces.
I also curated the exterior courtyard with bar and the 4th floor green terrace - together with the great garden designer Susanna Magistretti.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
RED, GREEN, BLUE & BROWN
Gressoney Apartments
Interior Design
2024
Gressoney Apartments
Interior Design
2024
The four apartments are cut anew in the stable of a 1800 chalet residence of a noble family of Gressoney.
The location of the building, in the middle of the Gressoney valley, next to the river Lys and the golf course, is a fairy tale setting. Each window is like a painting, where the Monte Rosa shines its reflected light onto the valley from dawn to sunset.
![]()
![]()
The location of the building, in the middle of the Gressoney valley, next to the river Lys and the golf course, is a fairy tale setting. Each window is like a painting, where the Monte Rosa shines its reflected light onto the valley from dawn to sunset.
The architectural project is by architecture firm Studio Albori of Milan, renowned for eco friendly renovations and recovery of materials and structures.
In line with this work ethics, the building has been equipped with a highly ingenious, low impact, centralized heating system powered by wood chips combustion - wood chips are a byproduct of the local wood industry.
In line with this work ethics, the building has been equipped with a highly ingenious, low impact, centralized heating system powered by wood chips combustion - wood chips are a byproduct of the local wood industry.
The buildings are also insulated to maintain heat and have a mechanism to recycle air and keep it healthy in all seasons.
Furthermore the renovation of both the stable and the adjacent chalet are entirely done using onsite and local materials, such as the interior wood has been sliced from the original stable floors and the stone of the entrances and kitchen floors carved in the local quarry.
Furthermore the renovation of both the stable and the adjacent chalet are entirely done using onsite and local materials, such as the interior wood has been sliced from the original stable floors and the stone of the entrances and kitchen floors carved in the local quarry.
My interior project interior was also based on the same rigorous approach in terms of vision, materials and minimum impact. First of all I wanted the 4 apartments to all look as part of the same visual idea but to be distinguishable one from another.
I gave myself a few strict rules to play with:
- A paired back design of squares and rectangles for all the custom furniture: almost everything was designed and build to measure, from kitchens to bathrooms, couches, beds, bookshelves and cupboards, to optimize space while maintaining visual order in such small apartments
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
- I chose 1 main solid colour combination per apartment. starting from the scheme or red, blue and yellow, I twisted it to red, blue, orange and green and played with it.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
- No other materials but wood, stone and fabric.
![]()
- I chose 1 main solid colour combination per apartment. starting from the scheme or red, blue and yellow, I twisted it to red, blue, orange and green and played with it.
- No other materials but wood, stone and fabric.
- No mass produced contemporary furniture, but rather a few vintage pieces and recovery and restoration of most of the family furniture, unused for decades, which included anything from 18th century tables, chairs, cupboards, shelving units, to wood boxes, work benches, baskets and farmers tools.
- Nothing toxic or synthetic or not easy to clean and maintain
- Only iconic pieces of design lighting, whether vintage or produced today.
Even if I started my work when the layout and construction materials had already been determined, I feel the design of space and cosy mood I achieved are really key for practical, contemporary and smart looking apartments that will be rented out for the season.
Poliziano Apartment
Interior Design
2023
Interior Design
2023
The apartment was designed for an aging couple who chose the apartment after the Covid-19 pandemic because it had a terrace - in case of another lockdown they wanted to have some outdoor space. In origin the apartment was divided in a peculiar way so I worked with architect Silvio Maglione to completely redesign the space and make the big terrace the focal point of the house.
The entrance and corridor are cut in a dramatic way - both in shape and colour - to create a visual tunnel drawing the eye to the greenery outside.
The living area, that also encloses the kitchen, has only one solid wall while three sides are glass windows overlooking the big terrace and the street.
The living area, that also encloses the kitchen, has only one solid wall while three sides are glass windows overlooking the big terrace and the street.
So the overall feeling is a sense of freshness, light and air. There is also a porch outside that works as an additional dining area in mild weather.
The pandemic had also made clear to the owners they wanted an extra room for a caregiver, so when we designed the apartment we knew they needed 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. To fit everything in 120 sqm we thought of a “trick”: the master bedrooms are positioned next to each other with 2 adjacent bathrooms in between with a common shower that opens on both sides. In this way we saved space and they have to take turns in showering - safer at their age.
There is a third bathroom with laundry area in the corridor - that doubles as guest toilet.
We managed to fit small walk-in-closets in both master bedrooms. We designed them with ergonomic touches in mind - like revised height of hanging poles for easy access - and built them in solid cedar wood, to keep moths away.
The kitchen was custom made by Dada/Molteni and engineered without hanging kitchen cabinets for ease of use and to have the luxury to cook with a view.
The colour of the corridor was chosen with the owners who liked the idea of a bold statement and fits perfectly with the rest of the apartment which is a warm grey and warm beige resin bathrooms.
Light natural oak parquet and simple modern furniture with touches of glass and metal make the whole apartment look very sleek.
Housed in a specially designed niche, a collection of beautiful Murano vases gives a touch of timeless elegance to this contemporary apartment.
We managed to fit small walk-in-closets in both master bedrooms. We designed them with ergonomic touches in mind - like revised height of hanging poles for easy access - and built them in solid cedar wood, to keep moths away.
The kitchen was custom made by Dada/Molteni and engineered without hanging kitchen cabinets for ease of use and to have the luxury to cook with a view.
The colour of the corridor was chosen with the owners who liked the idea of a bold statement and fits perfectly with the rest of the apartment which is a warm grey and warm beige resin bathrooms.
Light natural oak parquet and simple modern furniture with touches of glass and metal make the whole apartment look very sleek.
Housed in a specially designed niche, a collection of beautiful Murano vases gives a touch of timeless elegance to this contemporary apartment.
tramonti house
Interior Design / Creative Direction / Production
2018 — 2020
Interior Design / Creative Direction / Production
2018 — 2020
A small house built from
scratch in a few years. A long and difficult
process has brought what was - literally - a pile of rocks, to be a proper
house.
From the outside, the house has been rebuilt exactly the way it was a century ago: small stone house used for agricultural purposes. The external features had to be maintained, given the strict 5 Terre Area regulation.
From the outside, the house has been rebuilt exactly the way it was a century ago: small stone house used for agricultural purposes. The external features had to be maintained, given the strict 5 Terre Area regulation.
The interior would have
been normally painted white but my intent was to make it somewhat “unlikely” and more like a
country house of the middle of Europe.
I wanted the place to look like it had been there for a long time.
I wanted the place to look like it had been there for a long time.
A few choices have given
it its character: the colour and texture of the walls - limewash - the dark
stone floor - made of many different formats, the wooden roof and beams in
natural colour, the rusted iron of the furniture.
Also many small details, executed with care, contribute to its identity. Furniture, decor, lighting and fixtures are one-of-a-kind, creations of designers and artisans that put their heart in what they make.
![]()
Also many small details, executed with care, contribute to its identity. Furniture, decor, lighting and fixtures are one-of-a-kind, creations of designers and artisans that put their heart in what they make.
Center piece is an
artisanal table, made from fallen trees with all their natural marks and imperfections.
A piece of design with the texture of tradition.
A few vintage finds and some simple iron structures made to measure are the elements that make it very functional for the little floor space - total of 35sqm. The ideal place for a couple in their free time, with just one bedroom and bathroom.
![]()
A few vintage finds and some simple iron structures made to measure are the elements that make it very functional for the little floor space - total of 35sqm. The ideal place for a couple in their free time, with just one bedroom and bathroom.
Keeping with the
simplicity of it all, the house is almost completely off the grid, water being
the only utility. The sun provides electricity through a
photovoltaic system and a norwegian wood
stove is the natural heating system in the winter.
A very isolated, almost primitive, way of living that makes more and more sense in the current world.
A very isolated, almost primitive, way of living that makes more and more sense in the current world.
©stellaorsini 2023 all right reserved