iaa_E15 Recuts a Milan Apartment With Arches and a Quiet Flow Plan
iaa_E15 sits in Milan, Italy, within a 1930s rationalist building near Corso Buenos Aires. Icona Architetti Associati reshaped this apartment, originally a pied-à-terre, into a full-time home with a clear plan and a controlled material palette. Curves and arches replace doors with deliberate thresholds, while wood and marble ground the rooms in a calm rhythm. The result reads measured and urbane, designed in 2023 for daily use rather than occasional stays.
Light pulls forward from the entry, then gathers in the main room. Two broad arches frame the view and shift attention from doors to thresholds with a quiet assurance.
An apartment in Milan becomes a daily residence, rethought by Icona Architetti Associati through plan moves that rewire circulation and calibrate experience. The project trades a linear corridor for a two-part sequence and an open living core, using curved lines and measured materials to guide the eye and the body.
Rewriting the Corridor
The original straight hall once dictated movement. It is now broken into two independent segments, each linked to the open room through generous arched openings that turn passage into pause and display. Near the entry, a compact volume works both ways: cloak storage on one side and full-height cabinetry on the other, tightening the plan while adding utility. The result feels intentional, with a slim gallery effect that holds art and design in measured frames.
Arches Set Circulation
Curves carry the plan forward. Two large arches, trimmed in wood and proud of the wall thickness, convert former doorways into clear portals that keep sightlines open and movement continuous. They bypass the entry interruption and connect living, bedroom, and the rest of the home, replacing stops with a steady cadence across rooms. The gesture nods to the building’s neoclassical cues while staying firmly pragmatic in use.
Living on a Curve
The main room merges former lounge and kitchen. A crescent-backed sofa, rounded tables, and a planet-shaped rug echo the curved theme, while a fine metal bookcase keeps the wall light and articulate. The composition reads calm, supported by wood and marble that repeat from threshold to work zone without noise. Art anchors the backdrop, giving the open room a dark counterpoint and a steady focal weight.
Dining on Axis
A single marble slab defines the dining table. Set on two C-shaped legs and aligned with the kitchen’s matching slab, it builds a clean central perspective that tightens the room’s geometry. From the middle viewpoint, lines converge and hold a theatrical symmetry, with the chandelier above punctuating the axis rather than crowding it. The open core stays legible, and meals sit comfortably within the plan’s clear order.
Quiet Private Rooms
The main bedroom stays pared back. An en-suite uses the same soft finishes—wood and marble—warmed by brass hardware that lends a gentle gleam without fuss. The guest bath takes a sharper stance with white stone and custom green ceramic graphics that trace a run of arches across the walls. Even the vanity, basin, mirror, and tub round off, keeping the curve legible in a smaller room.
Sun threads through the arches and settles on wood and stone. The plan holds its rhythm, turning corridors into moments and rooms into clear destinations. It feels measured and ready for every day.
Photography by Monica Spezia
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