Quiet luxury and intimacy at the Merate Residence in Italy’s Lecco province
m2atelier
House
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Completed
The idea for the Merate project grew from an instinctive, collaborative process between m2atelier and the clients. Rather than follow a strict brief, the studio focused on creating a home that respected Mario Botta’s iconic architecture while reflecting the owners’ rhythm of life. The goal was to design a space that spoke the same language as Botta’s exterior—thoughtful, refined, and cohesive. The concept evolved naturally, shaped by m2atelier’s signature attention to proportion, material, and atmosphere. Every element, from the custom furnishings to the layout, was made to feel personal and lived in. The result is a layered, sculptural home that prioritizes intimacy over spectacle and quiet luxury over statement.
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Set in the quiet town of Merate in Italy’s Lecco province, the residence is surrounded by soft hills, gardens, and the calm rhythm of Lombardy life. Housed in a Mario Botta-designed building, the home is both a response to and reflection of its setting. m2atelier approached the project with restraint, allowing the landscape and architecture to speak together. Large windows frame the garden and echo Botta’s bold lines, bringing in light and grounding the interior in nature. A sunken hot tub and sculpted platform extend the living space outdoors. The design doesn’t compete with the setting—it draws from it, creating a home that feels both rooted and refined.
While not intended as a sustainability model, the Merate residence reflects m2atelier’s consistent attention to energy-aware design. The studio incorporated low-consumption electrical appliances and climate control systems, and prioritized natural airflow through carefully planned, connected spaces. Though no specific eco-certified materials were used and no formal awards or certifications were pursued, the project maintains a quiet commitment to efficiency and long-term livability within a refined architectural framework.
The Merate residence by m2atelier is a sculptural, four-level home set within one of Mario Botta’s iconic buildings in Merate, a quiet town in Italy’s Lecco province. Conceived without a formal brief, the project reflects an intimate dialogue between client, architecture, and studio—balancing precision, proportion, and deeply personal detail. On the ground floor, a compact kitchen opens to a glass-wrapped dining veranda, while a sunken hot tub sits in a platform garden of concrete and wood. The living room features low, textured pieces by Baxter, Minotti, and Molteni, framed by dark boiserie and mirrored thresholds. A central stairwell, wrapped in black silk marble and Phillip Jeffries wallpaper, anchors the home’s sculptural spine. Below, a Technogym-equipped fitness room overlooks the client’s wine and ham cantina—an elegant balance between wellness and pleasure. A bespoke sauna by EFFE and light-filled laundry complete the level. The first floor is a master suite of resin floors, porthole windows, and curved cabinetry. Upstairs, guest rooms open to terraces with Tribù, Gloster, and Roda furniture. Custom-designed furnishings by m2atelier—beds, wardrobes, vanities, and millwork—are integrated throughout.
“I wanted a home that felt both beautifully designed and deeply livable—and that’s exactly what m2atelier delivered. Every detail feels considered, from the custom fixtures and furniture to the way light moves through each room. The layout flows so naturally, with spaces that serve both function and emotion. It’s a house that feels timeless, yet entirely personal.”
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The main living space
Lorenzo Pennati
The Mario Botta facade
Lorenzo Pennati
Master bedroom
Lorenzo Pennati
Staircase is made of marble black silk and central wall that staircase wraps around is covered in wall paper by Philips Jeffries
Lorenzo Pennati
Master bathroom
Lorenzo Pennati
In-suite sauna
Lorenzo Pennati
Details in the master bedroom
Lorenzo Pennati
Top floor office
Lorenzo Pennati
Kitchen
Lorenzo Pennati
Glass-ensnared sunroom dining space with outdoor terrace
m2atelier is a Milan-based architecture design studio founded by Marco Bonelli & Marijana Radovic. Partners in life and work, they bring complementary backgrounds in fashion, yachting, residential, hospitality, and furniture. From their headquarters in a former industrial factory, they lead a team of 50 on projects across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. Known for refined minimalism and precision in proportion, materiality, and detail, the studio blends timeless elegance with global sensibility. m2atelier has collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana, The Core Club, Ferragamo, and yacht builders Feadship and Azimut-Benetti. Their Giorgetti line includes pieces like Tie Chair and Ensō Table. Bonelli, trained at Columbia, worked in Paris, NYC, and Barcelona before founding BAMdesign. Radovic, a Politecnico-trained yacht designer, launched STANDBY Studio and brings experience in private aviation and superyachts.
