Little Gem No. 114 | Hospitality Meets Contemporary Art
An Art-Infused Architect’s Apartment in the Heart of Milan
An apartment to stay. A gallery to experience. A place where hospitality and contemporary art meet, shaped by its founders @alina_muse and @andrea_villa_architecture.
Stepping into this one-bedroom apartment, set within a 1920s courtyard building in central Milan, reveals a quiet, considered elegance. The original architecture—ceilings, floors, and doors—remains intact, forming a calm backdrop to a more contemporary layer of Italian design and bold artistic expression.
The owner, an architect, has approached the space with a clear sensitivity to form, colour, and time. Italian vintage pieces sit effortlessly alongside contemporary works: a Maralunga sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina (1973), stainless steel chairs by Willy Rizzo (1970), and a wardrobe by Osvaldo Borsani (1960). Mid-century and 1980s lighting adds warmth, while artworks and custom-designed pieces—such as the suspended “ray” armoire or the chrome swivel mirror in the green marble bathroom—bring a more personal layer to the space.
Blending hospitality with a gallery-like approach, with the idea that each object, artwork, and design piece is available for purchase. A space that evolves, rather than remains fixed.
Location
Set just beyond the immediate centre, the apartment is located in a quieter residential pocket of Milan, within walking distance of Milano Centrale and Corso Buenos Aires. The Duomo and Montenapoleone are within easy reach, while nearby streets offer a more local rhythm.
Museums such as Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano and Museo Bagatti Valsecchi are close by, as well as Palestro park for a slower moment within the city. The area lends itself well to exploring on foot or by bike, with a morning walk towards Piazza San Babila taking around fifteen minutes.
Plinius Loves
It’s rare to find a place that sits somewhere between a home, a studio, and a gallery—and still feels warm.
What makes it special is that it doesn’t behave like a rental. It feels like stepping into someone’s world—someone who collects, builds, experiments. The fact that pieces can move, be bought, replaced gives it a sense of fluidity. It’s not frozen; it evolves.
And then there’s that balance, which they manage to get perfectly right: visually strong, yet calm to live in.
Location
Milan, Italy
Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa — approximately 20 minutes by train or 30 minutes by car
Bookings
Via email or Direct Message (DM) on Instagram
Price Indication
From €350 per night for two guests, depending on the season