Millennial amarcord by Carlo Colombo

In this precise context, the time of history has made the place where Carlo Colombo welcomed his first clients, in an elegant, refined atmosphere, be transformed into a seasonal country residence. A house the designer has given to his son, a student based in London and an excellent golfer. The two share a taste for an erudite mixture of memories and timeless impressions.

The original layout of the spaces on three levels, previously reconstructed on an architectural plane, with a sophisticated range of material combinations – rugged stone and brick of the restored walls of the hayloft, the dark wood of the old ceiling beams, the steel of the custom staircase, like a reflecting ribbon to connect the levels, the pale, polished stone of the floors, the thin panes of glass in the vertical dividers – now becomes permeable to the light of a new day.

“On the ground level we have added a kitchen that can be hidden away, for low visual impact,” says Carlo Colombo. “When it is closed it looks like an ebony monolith, and when it is open the doors fit into the sides. This option is perfect for a house that is not constantly occupied. Together with the table-sculpture with a marble top for quick lunches, and the Joe baseball glove by Poltronova, it forms an intimate island in a space that was once the library of my studio.”

On the other side of the entrance, the living area is more social, organized around a fireplace as a place for conversation or listening to music, where the large DePadova table is ideal for dinners and parties with friends.

Other ingredients have come into the narrative mixture, including iconic furniture from the history of design, and custom plastic elements that conserve the original welcoming atmosphere.

By contrast, the other two levels have been completely gutted, reinterpreted and modified in terms of functions: the middle floor contains a studio and a guest zone, while the upper level is for the master suite with a closet, a bathroom and a private living area. The spaces interpenetrate, flowing into one another.

“They are unrecognizable,” the architect continues. “After all, the pleasure of feeling at home (now that it has become a home, to all effects) belongs to my son. The hand, the timbre, the desire to play with spaces and create something enjoyable, belong to me. But the idea of this particular dimension of light, informal comfort is the result of our interaction, of awareness of a generation that is not ours, exposed to infinite connections and virtual relationships, interested in a dynamic, flexible way of dwelling; open to moments of gathering and socializing, but also closed to defend a precious sense of privacy.”