The 30,140-square-foot complex, located at the heart of Milan’s Golden Triangle luxury shopping district, is due to open on Dec. 1, hosting a luxury Portrait hotel, retail spaces and restaurants overlooking the colonnaded courtyard that connects Corso Venezia with nearby Via Sant’Andrea. The complex which is now controlled by the Ferragamo family used to be a former archbishop’s seminary until 2002, but also a library, prison and hospital across the centuries
After negotiations with Milan’s municipality, the local curia and the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, renovation works were handed to architect Michele De Lucchi. He described the project as challenging in that it required all architectural layers added over the centuries be preserved and exalted, from the 16th-century colonnade to the Baroque-era portal conceived by architect Francesco Maria Richini to the external facades, whose renovation in the ’70s was reportedly attributed to Piero Portaluppi.
The luxury Portrait Milano hotel is Lungarno Collection’s jewel in the crown for the project. The three-story hotel will accommodate 73 rooms, including 20 suites. On the first floor, each room opens up on the colonnaded passageway where the hotel will install private outdoor living spaces. Lungarno Collection includes several hotels in Florence including Portrait Firenze and Portrait Roma.
Revamped by architect Michele Bonan, the hotel’s interior is inspired by midcentury design, a Millennial favorite, with wainscoting, light-colored walnut wood, rattan panels, larch wood flooring, as well as nods to Italian know-how and style, with leather handles and the color palette of greens and reds, as often seen in Milan apartments. Bonan has been involved with other luxury hotel projects in Italy including JK Place and Shedir Collection.
The complex’s ground floor overlooking the courtyard is to welcome retail and dining spaces – including a casual and fine dining restaurant as part of the hotel. Taking over the courtyard’s entire west wing, hip Milan retailer Antonia is opening its second Milan outpost inside the Portrait complex, with around 8,000 square feet in retail space.
The concept store is set to carry a mix of established designers and new names for men and women, five branded concept corners in rotation and a sneaker space. The east wing will be dedicated to Beefbar’s fine dining experience, with a restaurant and cocktail bar.
The Monte Carlo-based Giraudi Group which operates 20 Beefbar banners across Paris, Tulum, Dubai, Mykonos and Hong Kong, is taking its beef-leaning formula to Milan inside a ’50s-inspired space, with a bespoke menu mindful of the city’s culinary traditions.
Ferragamo’s daughter Maria Sole’s jewelry brand, So-le Studio, and biohacking and antiage city clinic The Longevity Suite will complement Portrait’s offering, opening locations in the courtyard and the basement, respectively. The latter is due to open in spring 2023, while the young Ferragamo is debuting her first retail space in December
More from CONCIERGE
Champagne and hotdog concept Bubbledogs returns to 45 Park Lane (Dorchester Collection)
This summer, 45 Park Lane will welcome the return of famed Champagne and hotdog concept Bubbledogs for a special alfresco …
Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel unveils complete renovations
As of 1st May 2024, after nine months of renovations, Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel unveils its design transformation, reopening its …
Park Hyatt Milan completes renovation of Signature Suites
Already the author of the exclusive "Mio Lab" cocktail bar and the "Pellico 3 Milano" fine dining restaurant, architect Flaviano …