A vertical house

What makes an interior design project special? Certainly the thought with which it is realised, the idea of renovation as the result of an integrated vision of those who develop it and the personality of those who live in the house. For this small villa in Monza, a semi-rustic one with a rather impersonal original appearance, the Zenucchi Design Code team decided to intervene with an incisive renovation idea. “We tried to seize its potential, turning it into a Vertical House. Prior to the works, the house had a classic structure with a tavern in the basement, living area on the ground floor and sleeping area on the first floor. “We chose to revisit the spaces, giving them a contemporary and much more usable feel. In the basement, we created a real living area with a cinema room, a retractable kitchen and a snack area.” This was an important choice that redistributed the weights of the spaces and turned the often little-used and anonymous tavern into an independent and autonomous space.

“When you go down into the basement you find yourself in a cosy, new environment. An atmosphere of relaxation has been created by concealing and incorporating the functional areas to the best of our ability: the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom and even the security door – built flush with the wall and covered in parquet so as not to be perceived – through which the garage is accessed. The living and sleeping area was also completely redesigned. Among the works, the most significant was that of the staircase. “To give it character and make it the star, we chose a cement resin finish that breaks up the wood atmospheres of the basement and first floor”. A careful study of light – an ad hoc combination of concealed profiles and adjustable spotlights – enhances the works of art from the family collection, important elements that make the entire project even more special and personal.