The Penthouse Greenstyle is not just a residence; it is a living gallery, a narrative crafted in concrete, wood, and personal history. Designed by the acclaimed Castello Lagravinese Studio, this home redefines luxury by blending raw, brutalist aesthetics with deeply personal, warm touches. It stands as a testament to how modern living can be sustainable, technologically advanced, and full of soul all at once. This project, nestled within a next-generation residential complex focused on well-being, demonstrates a masterful balance between opposing ideas. It creates a space that is both a sophisticated design statement and an intimate, evolving home.
This penthouse challenges the very idea of a minimalist interior. Instead of cold, empty spaces, it presents a rich tapestry of textures, stories, and curated objects that reflect the homeowners’ lives. It’s a space designed for living, not just for looking at it. As we explore its thoughtful layout and unique details, you might start to reconsider what makes a house feel like a home.
A Breathtaking Entrance
The journey into the Penthouse Greenstyle begins with an immediate connection to the outdoors. Instead of a conventional foyer, the entrance opens directly onto a large panoramic window, pulling your gaze toward an expansive terrace. At the center of this view, a large planter filled with evergreen species acts as a natural focal point. This isn’t just decoration; it’s the anchor around which all other rooms are arranged, establishing a constant dialogue between the interior and the exterior.
The south-facing terrace becomes an extension of the living space. It offers sweeping views and bathes the home in sunlight from dawn until dusk. A majestic row of poplars provides a dynamic, ever-changing natural backdrop through the seasons. When the sun sets, the design continues to impress. Perimeter LED lighting transforms the terrace into a welcoming oasis, perfect for quiet relaxation or entertaining guests under the stars.
The Multifunctional Open Space: A Hub for Modern Life
The core of the home is a spacious, multifunctional open area that seamlessly integrates the living room and dining zone. This is where daily life unfolds in all its variety—from cooking and dining to relaxing and socializing. The design champions flexibility and connection.
The true genius of this space lies in its furnishings. A custom double-sided sofa allows for effortless rearrangement. Do you want to watch a movie? Face the sofa toward the TV, which is cleverly housed on a dual-function shelf. Do you feel like enjoying the view? Simply reorient the seating toward the terrace, blurring the line between indoors and out. This simple but brilliant feature ensures the space adapts to the residents’ needs and moods, making it truly functional.
The ‘Wunderkammer’ Living Room: A Curated Collection of Stories
This is where the Penthouse Greenstyle truly reveals its unique personality. The living room is designed as a modern Wunderkammer, or “cabinet of curiosities,” reflecting the homeowners’ passions and life experiences. It’s a space filled with curated objects, each with a story to tell. You won’t find generic decor here. Instead, the room is a collection of travel finds, flea-market discoveries, and industrial vintage pieces.
Some of the highlights include:
- Recycled Artworks: A compelling piece is a sculpture of a mallard duck, ingeniously crafted from a transformed motorcycle tank.
- A Collector’s Passion: An airline trolley has been repurposed into a multi-level display for a collection of Porsche model cars.
- Unique Furnishings: A coffee table made from a birch log topped with brass adds an organic touch. A large 1930s French industrial metal cabinet provides flexible storage for books and other items.
- A Robotic Adornment: A collection of robots, both new and crafted from reclaimed materials, lines a dark-stained walnut shelf, adding a playful, futuristic element.
Every piece contributes to the home’s narrative. Even a green swivel armchair, discovered at a flea market and restored by a historic upholsterer, has become a favorite spot for guests and pets alike. This space is a beautiful reminder that our homes can be a canvas for our personal stories. What objects in your home tell your story?
The Seamless Kitchen and a Hidden Study
Adjacent to the living area, the kitchen and dining space embrace a more minimal aesthetic. It’s designed to blend in, featuring a stunning ceramic slab wall that conceals a flush-to-wall door. To the right of the dining table, a sleek storage unit hides a built-in workspace, complete with shelves and drawers for preparing meals and cocktails. This keeps the area feeling clean and uncluttered.
Behind that concealed door lies a surprise: the study and guest room. It’s the only room in the interior with a bold splash of color—a deep green-blue hue. This private sanctuary is perfect for remote work or for unwinding with a book, offering a quiet contrast to the open-plan living area.
The Master Suite: A Private, Multifunctional Retreat
The master bedroom in the Penthouse Greenstyle is more than just a place to sleep; it’s a multifunctional suite designed for ultimate comfort and privacy. A floor-to-ceiling tilt door, echoing the study’s green-blue hue, opens to reveal the space. Visual continuity is a key theme, enhanced by recessed LED molding that traces the apartment’s perimeter from the living area, through the corridor, and into the bedroom and en-suite bathroom.
The room is full of clever, dual-purpose elements:
- A Desk and Shelf in One: A long wooden shelf provides both customized storage and a practical desk area, paired with a unique pouf made from a distressed black tree trunk.
- A ‘Magical’ Walk-In Closet: A partition of smoked glass behind the headboard conceals the walk-in closet. It remains a subtle backdrop until internal spotlights are switched on, “magically” revealing the space within.
- A Link to the Outdoors: The desert-cactus wallpaper subtly echoes the greenery on the terrace, strengthening the connection between the interior and exterior worlds.
The furniture continues the home’s theme of curated industrial relics, including a 1950s Royal Navy cabinet and a 1940s Polish military chest of drawers.
A Brutalist Palette with Smart Technology
Underpinning the entire design of the Penthouse Greenstyle is a restrained yet powerful material palette. This is where the home’s brutalist influence shines, balanced by warm, natural elements. Uniform parquet flooring creates a sense of continuity, while full-length wooden acoustic slats add texture and warmth. Concrete-effect walls are accented with elegant brass rods, and two types of ceramic are repeated in the kitchen, bathrooms, and on the terrace.
As designer Alessandro Castello states, “The moodboard of the house is quite warm and rather brutalist: concrete walls, wooden elements, and unique ceramics with a very material effect.”
This sophisticated aesthetic is powered by advanced smart home technology. Home automation centralizes control of lighting, climate, and shutters via a smartphone or tablet. Custom lighting scenarios, remote intercom access, and real-time energy monitoring are seamlessly integrated, with voice commands enabling effortless comfort and optimized energy consumption.
This home proves that brutalist design doesn’t have to be cold. When combined with wood, curated objects, and thoughtful lighting, it can create an environment that is both strong and incredibly inviting.
Project Credits:
- Interior Design: Castello Lagravinese Studio
- Location: Carate Brianza, Valle del Lambro Regional Park
- Year: 2023
- Total Area: 140 mq + 80 mq terrace
- Photographer: Stefano Tonicello
All images © Castello Lagravinese Studio. Feel free to find other inspiring interior design projects here at WE AND THE COLOR.
