They are soul–houses, the ones you look at and understand everything.
There are houses that speak of passion. Houses that are born one way and then become something else entirely. They are soul-houses, the ones you look at and understand everything: the personality of the people who live in them, the stories they tell. It happens here, in this small villa in the heart of Monza that – once upon a time – had a rustic and even somewhat anonymous appearance. A cottage that, today, is an extraordinary ‘vertical house’. It had a classic layout: tavern in the basement, living area on the ground floor and, immediately above, the sleeping area. Then, the transformation: the Zenucchi Design Code team brought a soul where there was anonymity, shaped its walls. And made, of that house, a home. Full of art and then life. In place of the tavern, it created a sort of house within a house, an independent living area with a cinema room along with a hideaway kitchen with its own snack bar. It cleverly concealed the laundry room. And let art do the talking. Paintings of all sizes, illuminated by Tom Dixon suspened lamps, provide a backdrop for the larch snack counter. In front of it, the White sofa by Rodolfo Dordoni (Minotti) – industrial style and steel-coloured – faces the Sequence sideboard by Patricia Urquiola (Molteni & C.). It’s like being in a loft here. A loft in which everything is designed to perfection. Starting with the custom-made kitchen, with concealed sliding doors in a matt lacquer finish, interior fittings and laminate top. And with wood panelling that – on the inside – conceals a wardrobe compartment for guests, the door passes through to the bathroom, broom cupboard, washing machine and dryer.
The staircase leads the light to the different levels.
A cement resin staircase – the star of the house – rises up from the tavern, now the living area: it breaks up the wooden atmospheres and leads the light to the different levels. With its recessed profile and adjustable spotlights that the works of art emphasise. These works can be found almost everywhere: in the lounge area overlooking the garden with its swimming pool, in the kitchen, in the master bedroom. A sober shell that enhances paintings and furnishings: Eero Saarinen’s white and grey arabesque marble Saarinen Dining Table (1957, Knoll), Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec’s Aim suspension lamps (2013, Flos) with double cable, and golden reflections that warm the Blanco modules by Luca Meda (1994, Dada). And then the LC2 armchairs by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeannaret and Charlotte Perriand (1928-1965, Cassina), different but the same. It all comes together here. The history of design meets art, fine finishes, coverings that decorate too. Just look at the bathrooms, with those tiles that look like art. Or the master bedroom, which looks like a suite and which – with Wyman bed by Minotti and Tom Dixon lamps – houses art, for real. And it bows down to its colours. With elegance, with admiration.
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