A Quadrilateral of History, Design and Fashion

By Editorial Staff - 6 September 2023

With the elegance of the past, this new piazza is an example for Milan of how historic architecture can truly be reintegrated into the flux
of contemporary life.

Over 500 years of history, destined to continue in an interweaving of cultural, artistic, hospitality and conviviality threads: the former Archiepiscopal Seminary of Milan, a Baroque masterpiece in Lombardy begun in 1565, was one of the world’s oldest seminaries that subsequently served countless other functions – later becoming a library, a print shop, and a school. During the First World War it housed a military hospital, and in the 1980s and 1990s, it was the atelier of architect Mario Bellini. Today, thanks to an important renovation project by ADML Circle with interior design by Michele Bönan Architecture, this iconic site has been reopened to the community with a new function, without betraying the soul of the building, its cultural and hospitality vocation. With the elegance of the past, this new piazza is an example for Milan of how historic architecture can truly be reintegrated into the flux of contemporary life. The result is Portrait Milano, a hospitality project by the young, same-name brand – internationally known and owned by Lungarno Collection – with dedicated spaces for gourmand experiences, haute couture and wellness, as well as cultural events. The starting point for ADML Circle was an in-depth study of the historic identity of the site, in order to valorize its architectural characteristics and respect their symbolic meaning. For example, documents provided by the Civica Raccolta delle Stampe Achille Bertarelli were used to conduct a study on the historic morphology of the window and door frames, proving to be fundamental in their contemporary reinterpretation.

Portrait Milano - courtesy Lungarno Alberghi

Once past the baroque gate by Francesco Maria Richini on Corso Venezia and proceeding down the long hallway, one arrives at the centerpiece of the structure: the Piazza del Quadrilatero with its double loggia of coupled columns. Reinterpreting the distributive function of the ecclesiastical loggia, the ground floor arcade is used as a space from which to access the hotel, the restaurants and the boutiques, which are located in the southern and western parts of the building. The greenery plays an indispensable role in creating a constant connection between the outdoor and indoor spaces: plants, trees and seasonal flowers of different colors give life to patches of vegetation that are capable of softening the severity of the ancient façades.

The first-floor loggia serves as the nodal center of distribution to the rooms: floors from first to fourth are dedicated to the hotel and its rooms and suites. All the rooms, despite being of different sizes and dimensions, are united by their style, with which Bönan wanted to recall the city’s lounges of the 1950s: the blond Italian walnut features oriental echoes and references the taste of that period. The wooden paneling and rattan panels, which interrupt the linearity with an original graphic, are historical echoes that complement the craftsmanship of artisans in Florence, the birthplace of Lungarno Collection – for example, the leather and bronze handles on the entrance doors, closets and sliding doors. The flooring on the other hand, features natural larch planks typical of the homes and castles of Northern Europe. The color schemes reference Milanese history: the dominance of red, alternated with green, is an homage to Saint Charles Borromeo, the cardinal who established the former Archiepiscopal Seminary.

Portrait Milano - courtesy Lungarno Alberghi

Portrait Milano celebrates the city, a metropolis in constant evolution, recognized worldwide for its design and fashion: the rooms and the common areas tell this story through photographs, patent reproductions, and graphic art.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | The cloister is the centerpiece of the complex, framed by a double loggia of paired columns. On the ground floor, the door and window frames soften the impact of the large wall surfaces, keeping with the principle of non-invasiveness.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | The history of Milan is highlighted starting from the common spaces like the reception area. Photographs, works of art, patent reproductions and drawings highlight the constant changing and evolution of the city.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | The imposing steel sliding glass windows with luxury coating finish made by Astec overlook the loggia, the architectural element and functional heart of the hotel. Motorized and over 6 m tall, they provide thermal and acoustic protection.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | Common spaces include a rich library with sofas and tables for reading: light-colored seating stands out in a warm environment thanks to tapestries, boiserie and bookshelves between brown and red.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | The Borromeo Suite, with its majestic and luminous 165-sq. m space overlooking the garden, is one of the highest expressions of the essence of Portrait Milano. Guests are welcomed inside through a spacious living room with a so-called conversation area equipped with corner sofas. The lunch area consists of a large table and a wall equipped for food preparation.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | Carrara Marble is the main protagonist of the bathroom cladding. In some instances, it is used in combination with Red Porphyry or Breccia Medicea, a type of marble dating back to Roman times that was greatly appreciated by the Medici family, hence its name.

Portrait Milano - courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi | The Studio Deluxe rooms, with a typically Italian design, are characterized by the presence of king size beds flanked by nooks and crannies for relaxing and chatting privately, in addition to large walk-in closets and wardrobe rooms.

Location: Milan, Italy
Client: Lungarno Alberghi
Completion: 2022
Gross Floor Area: 8,000 m²
Architect: AMDL Circle and Michele De Lucchi
Interior Designer: Michele Bönan Architecture
Main Contractor: Pasqualucci Costruzioni

Consultants
Structures, Plant Equipment, Project Management: Artelia
Lighting: Gruppo C14
Landscape: Hortensia

All photos courtesy of Lungarno Alberghi

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