The 1970s spawned both conversation pits and Brutalist architecture– and in a main district of Milan, Nick Maltese and Federico Pagetti of Nick Maltese Studio have actually permitted them both to co-exist, in an almost achromatic, four-story home for an art collector. Stripping Brutalism down to a style philosophy where minimalism speaks volumes, the studio has actually crafted a space that brings both rigor and whimsy to a setting for everyday living and high-concept private events.
The project’s material palette translates the Brutalist architectural style through a nearly custom approach: exposed concrete, board-formed surfaces, and industrial stainless steel create an intense and tactile environment. 3 above-ground floors and a basement are anchored by a strong vertical axis– a sculptural black metal staircase custom-made by the studio passes through the whole home, defining views at each level.
On the ground flooring, a double-height living location with a handcrafted metalwork mezzanine functions as the heart of the home.
The kitchen, outfitted in gleaming stainless-steel, echoes the precision of professional hospitality environments. Close by, a dining table made totally of concrete flashes the raw rebar that comprises its structure below. These brazen moments of exposed rebar are discovered in nooks and corners throughout the house.< img src= "https://design-milk.com/images/2026/06/Nick-Maltese-Brutalist-Apartment-Milan-8-800x1198.jpeg" alt= "Modern lounge location with large gray flooring cushions, a black leather chair, and framed artwork raiding raw concrete walls. "width="800 "height="1198 "/ > The centerpiece of the ground floor is a modern reinterpretation of the discussion pit: the sunken location defined by soft volumes, inviting interaction and slowing the rhythm of domestic life. All around, the client’s incredibly eclectic modern art collection offers bursts of color that separate the home’s deep sense of discipline. The pieces seemingly float along stone-washed walls (including a life-size hazmat match sculpture leaning against a corner).
In the innermost quarters of the house is the introspective and sensory basement, which houses a private wellness location total with a
counter-current pool, sauna, and hammam. As knowledgeable practitioners in the design and style area, Maltese and Pagetti understand how to redefine luxury– and here, it is the meaningful, raw power of materials that defeats standard excess. A savvy host’s dream, the Milanese residence unapologetically defines what its designers boldly call the “guts of subtraction.”
Photography by Simone Nicolaci.
Bianca Weeko Martin is an author and researcher weaving together architectural practice with theory and individual narrative. She is the author of the offered out Architectural Guide Manila.