The Bau loft

The building in question, situated in the Navigli area of Milan, one the most popular neighbourhoods, is evidence of one of the three centuries of urban Milanese History.

Inside it’s walls have come and gone over the course of a hundred years: a convent, churchyard, a dairy storage, a factory, a printer and a pan-producer. History has indeed left its footprints in this place which has shown itself to be flexible, modifying itself by a dynamic process to whatever is offered.

The project takes place in a marvelous area in which space takes over. The old wall and brick arches define the perimeter of the actual volume higher than 4 metres whilst the upper original wooden double flapped covered structure is visible.

The contrast between the 18^th century Lombard architecture, industrial architectural elements and contemporaneity is the key of this project. The leading role is left to the empty space, cutting out separate physical areas, spatial and visual totality is being achieved as passing through the three large doorways, we go onto the veranda used as a winter garden lit up by a window placed between the large brick arcades and roof skylights. At whichever point one finds oneself one perceives vastness. The separation that borders the night zone and the bathroom is overcome by employing multilayered birch furnishing that makes the base of the great bookcase placed halfway between, reaching towards a light staircase and a grey metal structural gangway. A second staircase suspended on rods above the overhead floor-stab allows access to the large-spaced attic in which are fitted the original wooden trusses.

The choices made regarding the internal design underline the industrial heritage of the building by the use of cheap building materials amongst which we find unpainted steel, multilayered poplar and second hand wooden tables alongside which are placed precious graphic masterpieces, drawings, sculptures and home-made furniture.

The resulting environment symbolizes the rich and complex history of the building which over the course of the years has been molded to life through the occurrings within the wall.

Photos: Silvio Wolf (www.silviowolf.com)