Villa MS is a minimal home located in Bergamo, Italy, designed by Hub Design. In the heart of a 1950s building, restrained by the limitations of preservation regulations, lies a design project that defies convention. Tasked with creating a home that encourages communal living and communication for a young family of five, the designers found inspiration in the building’s original double-height space. Once occupied by a monumental staircase, this space now serves as the fulcrum of the home, connecting the living spaces on the ground floor, the master spaces on the first floor, and the children’s common area on the second floor. The result is a seamless flow that facilitates family interaction while preserving a sense of privacy and personal space. But the design team didn’t stop there.

The project also included a complete redesign of the home’s external areas, creating two distinct spaces: a “public” front garden visible from the street and overlooked by the living areas, and a “private” garden located at the back of the house, overlooked by the double-height space and kitchen. These two gardens are separated by a concrete partition that penetrates the curved volume of the double-height space, defining both access to the house and the separation between the public and private areas. “We were challenged by the constraints of the building’s preservation requirements, but we saw that as an opportunity to create something truly unique,” says the lead designer.

“By embracing the existing structure and incorporating the family’s desire for communal living, we were able to create a minimalist design that maximizes both functionality and aesthetic appeal.” The resulting design is a stunning example of minimalist design that emphasizes the importance of communal living while preserving privacy and personal space. It’s a home that truly reflects the needs and desires of the family who lives there, and a testament to the power of creative problem-solving in the world of architecture and interior design.

Photography by Marcello Mariana