A Poor 1980S Renovation Stripped This Apartment Of Original Features — Here’s How An Architect Brought Back Its ‘Milanese Character’

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Milan-based Atelier Zero renovated an apartment whose 1980s refurbishment had removed some original architectural details. Architect Matilde Valagussa said the project preserved surviving moldings, paneled doors and parquet while adapting the joined units for a family of four and introducing bold color and contemporary design.

Milan-based architecture studio Atelier Zero renovated a family apartment that had lost some of its original architectural features during an 1980s renovation, aiming to restore its traditional Milanese character without removing surviving details. Architect Matilde Valagussa said the work also adapted two previously joined apartments for a family of four, using targeted layout changes and contemporary color rather than extensive structural alterations.

The apartment was formed by joining two adjoining units and already had ample space for its residents, a family of four. The design challenge was to make the combined home feel cohesive and work better for family life. Valagussa told Livingetc that the team adjusted the internal layout to improve the flow, while avoiding unnecessary damage from major construction.

Some original details had been removed in the earlier renovation, but ceiling moldings, paneled doors and original parquet survived in the living and dining areas and bedrooms. Valagussa said the studio sought to preserve these elements and make them the starting point for the new design. The source does not specify which features were lost or whether any missing details were reconstructed.

Rather than recreate a period interior wholesale, Atelier Zero combined surviving architectural features with contemporary interventions. Painted bands and blocks of color give the rooms a new visual structure, while furniture and selected design elements add contrast. Livingetc also highlights a kitchen island with a rounded top and red metal supports, and a restored bookcase incorporated into a new arrangement through color and its relationship to nearby furniture.

Preserving Details Without Rebuilding the Past

The project shows one approach to renovating a historic home after an earlier remodel has removed some of its character: retain and emphasize what remains, then use new design choices to make the space functional for current residents. That matters to homeowners and designers facing similar constraints, because restoration does not always mean stripping a home back or attempting to reproduce every lost feature.

Atelier Zero’s reported approach also reflects the practical demands of the job. The family needed a connected, usable home across two formerly separate units, but the team aimed to accomplish that with limited structural work. Color, furniture and careful layout changes provided ways to distinguish areas and establish a contemporary identity while leaving surviving moldings, doors and parquet in place.

The result, as described by Livingetc, brings together elements from different periods rather than treating the 1980s renovation only as something to erase. Valagussa said the studio drew on the freedom of 1980s design, including its combinations of simple shapes and familiar materials. That is the architect’s account of the design intent; the source offers no independent evaluation of the finished apartment’s performance or cost.

Two Apartments, One Family Home

The property’s existing arrangement shaped the work as much as its age. It had been created by joining two neighboring apartments, and, according to Valagussa, the combined space offered enough room for the clients. The studio’s task was to make the interior read as one home and adjust its circulation for a family, rather than solve a shortage of floor area.

Valagussa said the team looked first to the apartment itself: room proportions, tall doorways and views between spaces. The studio also took inspiration from Milan’s mix of history and urban life. In the article, Valagussa described the city’s appeal as something that becomes visible over time, with much of its beauty tucked away. Livingetc presents this as a design reference for the home, not as a claim about a formal preservation program.

The available report focuses on the design brief and selected features. It does not provide the apartment’s address, age, renovation budget, project dates or a detailed inventory of its original fabric. It also does not identify the architects responsible for the earlier work or establish whether that renovation involved any specific building-code or preservation issues.

“The main priority was to bring out the apartment’s traditional Milanese character.”

— Matilde Valagussa, architect at Atelier Zero, speaking to Livingetc

Project Details Not Reported

Livingetc’s report does not state when the renovation took place, how long it lasted or what it cost. It also does not list all the architectural details removed in the 1980s, identify whether any were recreated, or explain how the studio assessed the apartment’s original condition.

The source describes the design aims and selected features through Valagussa’s comments and Livingetc’s presentation. It does not include a statement from the homeowners, a preservation authority or an independent specialist. Claims about the project’s success should therefore be understood as descriptions of the design, not independently measured results; no information is provided on permits, construction specifications or long-term performance.

No Further Project Updates Listed

The source presents the apartment as a completed design project but gives no upcoming milestone, further construction phase or planned follow-up. It is not clear whether Atelier Zero or the homeowners intend to share additional project details, such as the renovation timeline, budget or a fuller account of the features that could not be retained.

For now, the available information remains the studio’s account of its approach: improve circulation across the joined units, protect surviving period details and use contemporary elements to connect the rooms. Any further claims about restoration methods or the fate of missing features would require additional project documentation or comment from the architect and owners.

Key Questions

What happened to the Milan apartment?

Atelier Zero renovated the apartment after an 1980s refurbishment had removed some of its original features. The studio aimed to bring out its Milanese character while adapting the joined units for a family of four.

Which original features survived?

Architect Matilde Valagussa said the team preserved surviving ceiling moldings, paneled doors and parquet flooring in the living and dining areas and bedrooms. The report does not give a complete inventory of what remained.

How did the studio make the two units feel connected?

The apartments had already been joined. Valagussa said the team made targeted changes to the internal layout to improve flow and suit family life, while avoiding unnecessary structural work.

Did the designers recreate the features removed in the 1980s?

The report does not say whether any lost features were reconstructed. It describes a focus on preserving what remained and adding contemporary color and design elements.

What information about the renovation is still unavailable?

The source does not provide the project date, budget, duration, address or a detailed record of the features removed in the earlier renovation. It also does not report independent assessments of the completed work.

Source: rss