In the heart of Monza, MAC Milano Architettura Contemporanea undertakes the renovation of an early 20th-century single-family villa with a carefully calibrated intervention that combines historical memory with contemporary language. The architectural challenge was to preserve the original identity of the house, built in the early 1900s, while introducing new functions and spaces through an uplift and an expansion in glass and iron that adjoins the living area.
The operation was carried out with compositional rigor: the building’s core was preserved in its original form, particularly the façade, which was restored respecting classical proportions. Meanwhile, the interior was entirely emptied, reorganized, and revitalized with a new, linear spatial layout. The slabs were repositioned, and the staircase—central to the house—was redesigned, reproducing the original drawing in an essential reinterpretation.
The villa extends over four levels. The semi-basement houses the service areas; the raised ground floor, with large windows that dialogue with the garden, accommodates the reception spaces: living room, dining area, and kitchen. The first floor contains the main sleeping quarters, while the attic, created from the uplifted volume, is intended for guests.
The interior language deliberately departs from the historic matrix of the building envelope, adopting a minimalist and refined aesthetic. Light colors, wide-plank oak floors, resin bathrooms, bespoke lacquered furniture, and integrated lighting outline fluid, luminous spaces where materials and natural light become key elements of the composition. The most prominent addition is the iron and glass conservatory, a contemporary element that lightly engages with the masonry mass, serving as a threshold between inside and outside—a luminous filter that extends the inhabited space toward the garden.
The exterior has also been reinterpreted with respect for the existing landscape: mature trees in the garden were preserved and enhanced, while the new swimming pool interacts with the surrounding nature through a simple design, featuring a wooden deck that emphasizes its linear geometry. Striking a balance between preservation and innovation, the project revitalizes a historic villa without betraying its original spirit, offering an elegant, minimalist, and deeply contemporary living idea.
MAC – Milano Architettura Contemporanea, founded by Claudio Calabrese and Stefania Martinelli, was established in 2015 after years of shared experience at Gregotti Associati. The studio operates in Milan and throughout Italy on architecture, interior design, artistic direction, and project management, with a philosophy centered on quality living and the synergistic relationship between space, materials, and furnishings.
For more information: www.macmilano.it
CREDITS
Project: Park Villa
Architect: MAC Milano Architettura Contemporanea
Location: Monza (MI), Italy
Year: 2021
Photography: Claudio Tajoli
