An atmospheric project by Italian brand Visionnaire - Il Chiostro
Oct 24, 2021
Il Chiostro means the convent courtyard in Italian. The name influenced the style of this unusual project, making it unusually Milanese in spirit.
The building was built at the end of the 19th century and served as a boarding school for orphans who learned the craft of typography. The building was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War. The architects, however, managed to give the building a second life, transforming it into an elegant residential complex.
A leitmotif of the project is the concept of a secluded green space. The lush vegetation extends over the roofs and gradually descends through the private terraces into the interior courtyards, creating a verdant riot of greenery which harmoniously complements the architecture of the building.
The interior space showcases the total look of the Italian furniture factory Visionnaire.
The architectural centrepiece of the spacious split-level reception room is the supporting wall, which is fitted with bookcase modules in a Speyer mirror finish, an iconic piece of the factory's collection. It is combined with decorative lighting elements and an impressive staircase, cleverly concealing the shoe rack and storage space.
The lounge area features the Bastian upholstered furniture collection (designed by Mauro Lipparini) - a light brown sofa with a chocolate coloured decorative trim and a velvety leather armchair; the low table Kings Cross in solid walnut Canaletto with a pronounced open pore and Dalmatian marble top; the Kudrun dining table with steel base, Kylo easy chairs in light brown and tobacco colour (designed by Alessandro La Spada). Alessandro La Spada) and the Gareth low armoire with steel base and tinted black glass worktop. The Equilibri Visionnaire crystal vase (by the duo Zanellato and Bortolotto), the Ballet vase in Murano glass (by Marta Giardini) and the enamel woodwork on the wall by Emmanuelle Barcillon complete the interior.
The living room flows seamlessly into a real bioclimatic greenhouse made of metal. A special feature of the construction, which occupies the entire terrace, is the mechanism that regulates the rotation of the blades on the roof. Metal vases with typically Mediterranean plants and flowers (olive trees, lemons, jasmines, roses, wisteria, camphor cinnamon, and climbing vines) stand around the perimeter of the terrace. A butterfly-shaped Argante rug, a Backstage armchair and a triptych of tall Granger tables with a steel base and a marble table top finished in hand-bronze complement the furnishings.
Pictured: Il Chiostro residential complex (Milan, San Vittorio district).
The representative of the Italian furniture factory Visionnaire in Minsk is the New Studio salon at Nemiga 12, 2nd floor.
