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In Milan’s Porta Nuova district, architecture and interior design studios COIMA Image and GIOPAGANI have designed the interiors of an apartment in Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale (Vertical forest) residential tower, creating new living ideas based on a vision of sustainable luxury. Designers Alida Forte Catella, CEO of COIMA Image, and Gio Pagani, founder of the studio of the same name, explain:
“We’ve combined the two concepts in a design developed with a close eye on sustainability, not only in terms of the choice of materials – which support the circular economy – but also on the quality of wellbeing they create. Both of these conditions are already embodied in the iconic Bosco Verticale tower.”
The interiors of this 24th-floor apartment in the Bosco Verticale building are the product of a working synergy between Alida Forte Catella and Gio Pagani, who shared the same tailor-made approach based on essential designs and attention to every detail to create an exclusive and comfortable residence. COIMA Image focused on the layouts of the spaces in particular and GIOPAGANI on the design of the custom furnishings, creating pieces that interpret the spirit of the apartment. The same pursuit of a new aesthetic can be seen in three other projects by the two designers in the lively Porta Nuova district: a penthouse on the 16th and 17th floors of Bosco Verticale’s other tower, and two apartments in Torre Aria and Torre Solaria.
The apartment on the 24th floor of Bosco Verticale has a floorspace of 2580 square feet (240 m2). With the design concept based around materials and colors inspired by nature, it brings the rich biodiversity of the balconies inside. The color palette is therefore played out on soft browns combined with a choice of finishes characterized by their strong materiality, such as the natural lime of the ceilings and walls. Other walls have wallpaper with oriental patterns. The floors are brushed natural oak parquetry laid in an Italian herringbone pattern with custom-machined wood strips, while the bathrooms are finished with exclusive stone, including slabs of Ambrosia and Breccia Sarda marble. In the living room, maple wood paneling was created to bring warmth to the room, with the main wall dedicated to a work of art, namely, an interplay of vertical and horizontal lines that reflect the colors of the apartment.
Most of the furnishings in the apartment are custom-made, including the lamps, created from metal and Murano glass. The centerpiece of the living room is the corner sofa with wool bouclé upholstery, while the dining area has twin tables. The kitchen, also made to measure with marble-effect surface finishes combined with matt lacquered wood furniture, has an independent entrance via the pantry. There are three bedrooms. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and an en suite bathroom with a freestanding tub. The bed’s fabric headboard is a reference to the bed canopies typical of the 18th-century.
These custom furnishings are then enhanced by the lighting design. With large windows, the apartment is flooded with natural light during the day, the light filtered by the façade’s plant life, creating an interplay of light and shade. The designers researched a way of reproducing this effect in the evening, creating a lighting design based on warm tones and narrow beams to sculpt each space in the same way as the green balconies.
“The idea is to capture the moment that neither begins nor ends, but is eternally suspended, as if it were a metaphor for "slow living". Imperfection is also welcomed - that out-of-the-box artisanal touch, a "genuineness" that can onlu ashtonish. Design ultimately stems from the search of beauty combined with a creative spirit, and it is triggered by an almost chemical reaction rooted in both memory and the surrounding reality. An authentic creative act is always driven by inspiration, be it a colour, melody, painting, detail…” From Private Portraits of Living, published by SKIRA
Location: Milano
Area: 240 m2
Project by COIMA Image and GIOPAGANI
Consultants: Deerns (MEP), Tekne (Construction Site Management), GAD (Quantity Surveyor)
Main Contractor: Esseci
Suppliers: Rossana Cucine (Kitchen), Artemide (Lighting), Lualdi (Doors)
Photography courtesy of COIMA Image and GIOPAGANI
