MILAN PIED–À–TERRE
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR, ZONA MAGENTA MILAN Situated near Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan, the apartment of Felizia Berchtold and Oskar Kohnen combines historical significance with modern design. Set within a former Visconti palazzo, it serves as both a creative retreat and a pied-à-terre, shaped by the designers’ lives between Milan and London.

The space revolves around a central garden room, awash with natural light. Here, original terrazzo flooring and plasterwork form a canvas upon which curated collectables interact in ever-changing compositions. At its core rests a black Kubus, a movable fabric-panelled cabinet inspired by Malevich’s Black Square, blending modern abstraction with historic surroundings. A shrine-like silver-leaf kitchen and a chrome-and-rosewood table enhance the rhythm of daily life with functional simplicity.

The surrounding terrace, with its century-old wisteria and palm trees, infuses the interior with shades of green, creating a seamless connection between interior and exterior. Throughout the apartment, historical references and contemporary pieces coexist, from Gründerzeit details to a striking Luigi Colli green glass mirror. Together, they form a dialogue between past and present, expressing the designers’ ethos of romantic simplicity and purposeful restraint.

As seen on the cover of AD Germany 12/2024
Photography by Ludovic Balay