Living Space - Europe
Studio Tesei Project Name: Santa Maria
Taylor Interiors 1 Project Name: Casa Allegra, Marbella, Spain
Location: Milan, Italy Architect: Antonella Tesei Interior Designer: Antonella Tesei
Interior Designer: Taylor Interiors Completion date: May 2015 Photography: Huw Evans
This project by Studio Tesei is located in the center of Milan and seeks a synthesis between the past and present, evoking the presence of nature.
The capacious villa, designed by architect, Diego Tobal, is one of the most exclusive in the AndalucĂa mountain area. Set high on a hill, yet designed with flat gardens and grounds, the front is exposed to striking ocean views, while to the left of the property, there are mountainous vistas.
This building fills an urban void, extending in depth on its original Gothic lot and with its main front set in direct relation to the Renassiance church of Santa Maria alla Porta. The various floors are connected vertically by a single stair. The top two floors allocate the living area with terraces progressively set back which are furnished and designed to be the outside dining and living room. The full-height glazings create a visual relation with the church and with the terraces. The night area is allocated in the two floors below. The project of the interior follows two main themes, such as the dialogue with nature and with history. Nature is declined in the pavements, in extra-white marble mosaic and oak wood, in the lime stucco of the bathrooms walls made with the same old Roman technique and lime paint of the rest of the walls. The desire of nature has also influenced the shape of the stairs, which resemble the inner part of a shell. The custom made outdoor lazer cut tables of the terraces are characterized by natural motives and the Cor-ten brise-soleil designed with the outline of a tree, creates striking effects of light and shade when the light is filtered through the fissures. The dialogue with history is reflected in combining contemporary design pieces with memories of the past such as old family furnishing and paintings. There has been a great attention to all the details and finishes within this project.
62 The International Design & Architecture Awards 2015
The property is as striking as the landscapes surrounding it. The sumptuous interior spaces are designed to offer the client a holiday home to rejuvenate and restore in comfort, with carefully curated rooms for entertaining. The numerous outdoor spaces offer covered seating and socialising areas. The large sofa opposite the infinity pool is designed to allow the pool views to melt into the sea and to take in the incredible sunset views. A covered terrace “Chiringuito� with barbeque can entertain up to 30 people. The contemporary white furniture, from the Elements collection by Manutti, is used throughout, ensuring the outdoor areas feel cohesively joined. The unique layout of the villa provides a diversity of spaces, where mixed ceiling heights play with visual scale. In the living room, the ceiling is lower in a cosy seating area, which rises to 5.5 metres in the main space, where a white, buttoned suede sofa is the centerpiece, placed next to sleek leather armchairs. A dark and sumptuous palette repeats across the master bedroom and bathroom, yet in the living room, this is juxtaposed with an ivory scheme to complement its light position next to extensive windows with views of the swimming pool. Accessories such as the chocolate brown velvet cushions, with a subtle leopard print, marry the schemes together, ensuring all the living spaces feel cohesive in this unique and highly luxurious villa.