One of the most prolific designers working today, Piero Lissoni is known for creating furniture with architectural qualities. This year alone he has launched the ‘Thierry’ side table with Kartell, ‘Panoramic’ sofa for Knoll, a new kitchen with Boffi, the ‘Ohe’ outdoor collection for Fendi Casa, marble accessories for Salvatori…
The list goes on – and that’s only what was announced ahead of Milan design week, which was when ELLE Decoration was invited to take an exclusive tour of the exceedingly busy man’s new home in the heart of the city.
‘This building’s rationalist architecture, characterised by its clinker-clad façade [common in Milan during the 1950s], rounded balconies and large side loggias, had a special charm,’ says Piero of this apartment block, designed by the modernist architects Alessandro Pasquali and Carlo Galimberti.
He may have fallen for the exterior, but inside this flat, which he shares with his partner, the photographer Veronica Gaido, there were surprises – some good, some less so. ‘It had been uninhabited for a long time and was in a very bad state, but that revealed an unexpected added value: a large, totally empty outdoor space that made us imagine a terrace full of plants, to be shared with many friends.’
‘First of all,’ he continues, ‘I wanted to understand the characteristics of the property so that I could better respect the pre-existing elements. Then, I tried to make the most of the available space, modifying the layout by linking the kitchen, dining room and living room with the outdoors and each other.
There is no hallway or unnecessary space. Instead, there are many nooks and crannies that can be experienced unconventionally. The sleeping area is perhaps the most dynamic change because, thanks to large panels that allow it to be open or closed to the adjoining rooms, it can be used differently as needed. A connection between the studio and living area can be revealed too, so the use of these spaces is also transformed.’
Asked how he uses the apartment day-to-day, Piero points to the abundance of chairs around the large outdoor table. Overlooked by towering privet hedges that frame views of the city, this entertaining area is used all year round.
‘The house was created to be a meeting place,’ he explains, ‘but, first and foremost, it is a real home. It is not pretending to be spectacular or to look like a piece from a design catalogue – paintings are stacked on the floor and there are flowerpots and family photos everywhere.’
When he and Veronica first moved in, though, the property was half-empty. ‘There were two Le Corbusier armchairs and a mattress resting on the carpet,’ he recalls fondly. ‘I thought I would want to live like this for ever, but we always consider our home as a work in progress, mid-transformation.’
Now, in what Piero refers to as ‘version 2022’, the apartment is full of furniture and collectibles, from antique chairs to Japanese silk screens, Chinese carpets, Scandinavian pieces and glass sculptures. The architect and designer, who is well known for his pared-back, simplified aesthetic, regularly finds himself pleasantly distracted by his surroundings.
‘When I have breakfast in the kitchen, I am caught by the reflections on the glass in the cupboard on the opposite side, or I turn towards the terrace to discover the new blooms. I love reading in the study, but I also enjoy soaking in the bathtub, looking out like a goldfish.’
Several changes were made to Piero’s plans for this home along the way, with Veronica eager to make her own opinions heard. ‘Initially, the kitchen was going to be all steel, but when we spoke her thoughts on that were quite clear,’ he says, with a wry smile. ‘Beautiful, but are you sure?’ It’s a question she raised again when confronted with plans for a concrete floor. Note: the apartment has timber flooring throughout, arranged in a very traditional fashion. ‘In the end, my wife won,’ admits Piero, ‘but all dialogue, if constructive, always leads to the best decisions. Ultimately, what matters is the positive energy of the house.’ lissoniandpartners.com
