An attic renovation in Milan built around the roof

The starting point was the roof itself. Instead of working around the old pitch, the studio rebuilt it, and that single decision shaped everything below. New dormers and skylights carry daylight into rooms that would otherwise stay dark, and pocket terraces cut into the slope open views across the Milan rooftops. The whitewashed timber beams were left in sight, so the character of an attic stays part of the apartment rather than hiding behind a flat ceiling. Rebuilding the roof also let the whole floor be properly insulated, so a space that might have been hot in summer and cold in winter now holds a steady, comfortable climate through the year.

The setting: Corso Concordia and Porta Monforte

Location shapes how a home is used, and this one sits well. Corso Concordia runs through Porta Monforte, a short walk from the Cinque Giornate and the historic centre. The avenue has recently been replanted and partly pedestrianised as part of the works around the new M4 metro at Tricolore, which puts the centre and Linate airport a short ride away. For someone spending a season in the city, few areas pair quiet, tree-lined streets with this kind of connection.

Materials and colour

Herringbone oak runs across the apartment and ties the rooms into one continuous surface. Built-in cabinets follow the pitch of the roof, which turns the low corners that usually go to waste into wardrobes, shelving and storage. Nothing about the attic shape is fought against; it is used.

The palette stays warm and grounded in natural tones, then lifts in a few deliberate places. The kitchen wears a deep marsala red, set under a skylight so the colour catches the light. One bedroom is painted soft lilac, another a quiet blue. In the living room a modular sofa in muted brown is dressed with mustard and burgundy cushions, and framed photography lines the walls. Every piece was chosen by the studio, so the apartment reads as one idea rather than a set of separate parts.

A bathroom and terraces that face the city

The main bathroom sets warm ochre plaster against oak, with a round mirror and a full-height door that opens onto one of the pocket terraces. From up here the rooftops of Porta Monforte sit at eye level and the light shifts through the day. These outdoor corners, carved out of the rebuilt roof, are what separate the apartment from an ordinary top-floor flat, and they give a guest somewhere to sit outside above the street.

Made for longer stays in Milan

The brief was specific. This home was designed for people who come to Milan for months rather than days, often a professional relocating for work who wants to turn the key and already feel at home. Everything is furnished and in place from the first day, so there is no empty apartment to fill and no slow settling in. As an attic renovation in Milan, the project shows how a neglected roof can become the best floor in the building.

The approach is one arcHITects has followed since 2009: take a space with an awkward history, rebuild what needs rebuilding, and hand over a finished, liveable result rather than a shell. The studio works across residential, hospitality and retail projects, and the same care with light, material and detail runs through all of them.

See more of our residential projects or read about the studio behind this attic renovation in Milan.

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini

Inside, each gallery is tuned to a single faculty: a corridor that bleaches colour from the retina, a chamber where water appears to flow upward, and a mirrored maze that forces the body to redraw its spatial map. Optical illusions, tactile floors, scent curtains and balance-defying platforms invite children and adults alike to question what they trust most—sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing and equilibrioception—before restoring them to the city with sharpened awareness.

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini
Ph. L. Privitera

Completely renovated, it combines Venetian charm with modern comfort, guaranteeing an impeccable welcome.

The property features refined, high-quality interiors and private outdoor spaces, ideal for relaxing after a day of exploring. It is also modular, allowing you to choose the whole building for an exclusive holiday with family or friends.

Each apartment has its own entrance and no communal areas, ensuring maximum privacy. With separate entrances and a fully automated check-in and check-out system, you will enjoy a carefree stay with the freedom to move around as you please.

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini

The boutique is divided into sections dedicated to fine watches and luxury bags, each presented in illuminated showcases that enhance their exclusivity. The black lacquered walls contrast with the luminous marble, emphasizing the grandeur of the space. Custom-designed display cases and black glossy furniture add a refined touch, while plush leather seating provides a comfortable setting for clients.

The storefront maintains a classical architectural frame with modern signage, blending heritage with contemporary elegance. The central entrance, marked by a sleek black revolving door, creates a striking transition into the world of high-end craftsmanship. The overall design delivers a luxurious yet inviting atmosphere, reflecting the prestige and exclusivity of the Ruzza brand.

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini

A family home interior design in Milan split into two worlds

The apartment is read as two areas. The first is generous and social. An open kitchen keeps its own space around a central island, and it flows into the living room and the dining area, which together also shape a small entrance. This is the part of the house made for people arriving, cooking, eating and staying late. The second area is the night zone, and it is completely separate. You reach it through a secret door, a flush panel that disappears into the wall, so the two lives of the house, the shared one and the private one, never get in each other’s way.

The night zone and the twin bathrooms

Behind that hidden door there are three bedrooms and a dressing room plus a service room. The main suite holds the most personal idea in the project: a his&hers bathroom that splits in two. Step down from the left or the right of the bed and you enter one of two mirror-image bathrooms, joined in the middle by a shared shower. Each side was finished to the taste of one of the owners, with artistic wallpaper. A blue terrazzo wall and a freestanding tub giving character to the main bathroom.

Wood, colour and light

Warmth is the thread that ties the home together, and it comes mostly from wood. Walnut screens made of vertical battens act as soft dividers between spaces, letting light and sound pass while still marking a threshold. Chevron oak runs underfoot across the day zone. Almost everything else is bespoke: the wardrobes, a walnut bar with a diamond wine rack, and the slatted oak wall in the main bedroom that hides its own flush door. Every piece of furniture here was designed from scratch for this family.

Colour is used with a light hand. Walls stay soft and warm, then a deep blue appears in the dining area, gentle lilacs and periwinkles settle the bedrooms, and the nursery is dressed in pale pink stripes. Lighting was treated as its own project, from a hoop chandelier over the table to a scatter of designer fixtures from well-known Italian brands placed through the rooms.

A home made to be shared

The brief behind Warm House was really about how a family lives. It had to welcome friends around a table one evening and shelter a young child the next morning, and the split plan lets it do both without compromise. Nothing feels temporary or off the shelf, because the studio drew each element for the people who live here.

The setting suits that idea. Via Lamarmora sits in Porta Romana, a residential part of Milan close to the Rotonda della Besana and a short distance from the centre. This is the sort of work arcHITects has done since 2009, taking a real brief from real people and building a finished, liveable home rather than a showroom.

See more of our residential projects or read about the studio behind this family home interior design in Milan.

Design: HIT arcHITects – Piantini
Photo F. Ferrarese

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini
Concept by Antitetico
Construction by Augusto Contract

arcHITects srl / Piantini

Project by arcHITects srl / Piantini