Casa Selene Apartments in Milan by Degli Esposti Architetti

Casa Selene Apartments, designed by Degli Esposti Architetti, is a striking contemporary residential complex in Milan, Italy, completed in 2021. Covering an area of 7,500 m², the building reinterprets traditional Milanese housing typologies with a bold architectural language that integrates façade asymmetry, protruding loggias, and dynamic balconies.

Architectural Concept and Typology

The building is composed of two interconnected wings:

• A perimeter wing along Viale Umbria that completes the urban block’s edge.
• An orthogonal wing extending inward towards the center of the block, culminating in three stairwells across its eleven above-ground floors.

This hybrid arrangement merges three architectural types: block perimeter wall, slab typology, and tower form, resulting in a distinctive volumetric identity.

Spatial Organization and Circulation

From the double-height lobby on the street front, residents and visitors enter a portico that connects directly to stairwells and underground parking areas via independent staircases. This clear circulation strategy strengthens accessibility while maintaining spatial fluidity between public and private zones.

Façade Composition and Milanese References

Casa Selene is defined by its three principal façades—west-facing along Viale Umbria, and south and north façades framed by large portals that offer urban visibility.

The façades are articulated with asymmetrical overhangs and bow windows, echoing Milanese precedents like Casa Astratta (Perogalli & Mariani, 1951–52) and mid-20th-century residential works by Caccia Dominioni and the Latis brothers. These modest protrusions create a dynamic, asymmetrical rhythm that enriches the streetscape.

• South Façade: Features multi-story loggias and light metal structures that vertically connect balconies in groups (1, 2, 3, and 4 stacked levels), culminating in a visually unified vertical sequence up to the penthouse.
• North Façade: Showcases continuous balconies, a hallmark of Milanese residential architecture, yet reinterpreted with varied enclosures: enclosed loggias on the lower floors and slender metal frames above, producing a layered architectural expression.

Materiality and Design Language

The façades integrate glass, metal, and ceramic finishes, supplied by leading manufacturers including Rak Ceramics, Mirage S.p.A., and Grohe S.p.A.. Thin metal framing elements recall the slowed perspective technique (prospettiva rallentata) used in historical Milanese modernist buildings, particularly by Guglielmo Mozzoni, further rooting the project in the city’s architectural lineage.

Casa Selene Apartments exemplifies the fusion of heritage-inspired Milanese design with contemporary urban housing needs. By combining façade asymmetry, typological hybridity, and refined material choices, Degli Esposti Architetti created a residential landmark that enriches the city’s evolving skyline.

All Photographs are works of Maurizio Montagna