Misa 9,5 Revitalizes Midcentury Flat in Milan

Built almost 60 years ago within a tower by the architect Paolo Chiolini, the apartment had a tired layout more suited to a previous owner.

Sciveres Guarini Associati updated the floor plan and restored parts of the interior fit-out to balance its modernist roots with contemporary tastes. The makeover has been dubbed Misa 9,5 after the client’s name.

“The project stems from the deep knowledge of the typical Milanese apartment designed by modernists,” architect Francesco Sciveres told OC.

After stripping away much of the interior to create a blank slate, Sciveres Guarini Associati cut back on the number of rooms.

The apartment has gone from having a narrow entrance hall, a hallway and sundry other rooms to being completely reconfigured with a far simpler floor plan.

From a central “day area” comprising the kitchen, living and dining room, the master suite fans out on one side while the children’s bedrooms, study and guest room occupy the other.

It’s only now been made possible to create a central social space, thanks to structural interventions and a simplified plan.

“We wanted to create generous open and family spaces and small intimate corners,” Sciveres continued.

The studio also opened up the interior with more and larger windows to bring more light in while re-orientating it along an axis so the main living spaces overlooked the warmer south and westerly exposures, partial views of the city skyline.

“The architectural approach aims to develop what a 1950s Milan apartment could be like today,” said Sciveres.

“We wanted to preserve the original DNA of the apartment but at the same time create something very contemporary for the client.”

A great deal of the flat’s original woodwork has been maintained, repurposed or repainted to bring it up to date.

In keeping with the 1950s, the living spaces have real wood flooring while some of the fittings in the bathroom are lacquered in muted colours popular at that time.

But Sciveres Guarini Associati avoided mimicry in the internal refurb, opting instead for an eclectic approach with a mix of materials and textures.

For example, smooth timber surfaces contrast with the soft patterns of matching coffee tables, while the lounge features faceted Italian sofas as a counterpoint to the rectilinear built-in wooden cupboards.

“We didn’t want to create a completely clean and minimalist project,” explained Sciveres.

“The variety of materials makes the project as unique and captivating,” he added.

Originally, the large roof terrace was not seen as an extension of the interior but an afterthought, with no meaningful connection to the flat below, according to the architect.

Sciveres Guarini Associati sought to redress this and created a more usable and certainly livelier roof terrace by adding an array of elements including a sauna, an outdoor dining space replete with tableware and a sunbathing area.

The roof terrace’s materials have also been updated, with planks of sustainable wood polymer composite softening concrete slabs.

Now attached with an iron and glass pergola and metal staircase, it has been transformed into a major feature of the re-imagined home.