How the new Casa Baglioni shines a light on the design heritage of Milan.
“Casa Baglioni is a five-star hotel which is not just a place to eat and sleep, but somewhere which recognises a significant moment in Milan,” says architect Federico Spagnulo.
The hotel references this period with unique custom furniture creations, designed by Spagnulo & Partners, as well as fabrics and wallcoverings from leading Italian brands, including Rubelli and Deda. The effect is like half-stepping back in time to a stylishly familiar era – the furniture, art and colours of the hotel feel surprisingly recognisable yet they manage to feel thoroughly modern at the same time. Fashioned out of a Liberty-style building from 1913, the hotel is intimate with just 30 bedrooms and one bijoux restaurant, although soon to open is a basement gym and, later this summer, a rooftop terrace, which promises to pull in a fashionable crowd.
“Beauty is not enough, when you are designing a hotel,” says Federico. “You need to take into account the locality and go deeper. It was really important to me that if any local people, especially those residents who lived here in the 60s, could come in and recognise various elements from that time.”
Step into the lobby, and you feel as if you’ve arrived at the home of a well-heeled Italian friend. The ‘Casa’ vibe is intentional, says Federico. “This is the Baglioni style,” he says, “So we’ve done away with the reception desk and any elements that would seem like a divide between staff and guests. I wanted it to feel like you were entering a home.”
Instead of a formal check-in, you are welcomed with the offer of a drink and a seat on one of the Giò Ponti-covered velvet chairs, a few questions answered via an iPad and within minutes, you are shown to your room.
While the hotel itself is compact, the rooms are super-spacious, even at the entry-level. Suites have separate lounge areas that flow through to bedrooms and onto cavernous bathrooms.
