BUCCELLATI – OPENING THE PIANO NOBILE AT PALAZZO GAVAZZI AT VIA MONTENAPOLEONE 23

Images courtesy of Buccellati

The majestic restored interiors of Palazzo Gavazzi (on the first floor)

Buccellati Milano Dal 1919 is expanding its Via Montenapoleone 23 store, with the opening of the Piano Nobile on the first floor of the historic Palazzo Gavazzi in Milan. Already home to two jewelry and silverware boutiques on its ground floor, it is nestled in the heart of the city’s famous luxury shopping street. This new, vast and prestigious space marks another step forward in the Maison’s evolution. Indeed, following its growth on the international markets in recent years, Buccellati is investing heavily in its city of origin, where Mario Buccellati set up the company in 1919.

The Piano Nobile’s Restoration and Interior Furnishings
The restoration and interior furnishings of the Piano Nobile were overseen by renowned Parisian interior designer Chahan Minassian in partnership with Milan’s Studio Quadrilatero. The result is a private, elegant and refined space that sticks closely to pre-existing architectural features while aligning perfectly with the Buccellati brand’s historical identity.

Presented by Galleria

The palace’s features, which naturally remind us of an “écrin” or jewelry box, have been enhanced in interior terms via carefully selected materials, finishes and custom-made furniture. We can access the space via a majestic staircase, taking us to an entrance hall from which a series of rooms decorated with frescoed ceilings, mosaic floors and Murano glass chandeliers unfold. This is before we get to two grand halls, complemented by hallways and small private rooms providing an exclusive, private experience.

Every item of furniture and lighting has been tailor made, with sofas, console tables, chairs, tables, coffee tables and rugs by Chahan Interiors Design. The furnishings’ organic, biomorphic lines – typical of the Parisian Armenian designer – are embellished by fine Italian fabrics from the likes of Bevilacqua, Fortuny and Rubelli. To top off the installation, Buccellati’s historic vintage window displays have been seamlessly merged with new Chahan-designs, featuring a contemporary aesthetic that nonetheless remains faithful to the brand’s signature codes. The palette, with its focus on gold, lunar silver, bronze and metallic notes, is seen reflected in finishes and materials, as iridescent silks, champagne-tinged mirrors and wire mesh weaves evoke the Buccellati universe with an air of refinement.

Buccellati’s Jewelry, Silverware and Craftspeople
The Piano Nobile provides a setting in which Buccellati customers can be immersed in their shopping experience, while at the same time enjoying full privacy and peace-of-mind. In the large storefront windows, the Maison’s jewelry and silverware on display is in keeping with what appears in the two ground-floor stores. Yet we can also admire a wide selection of the vintage collections there, some of which are available for purchase while others belong to the Buccellati historical archives.
Finally, customers will be able to visit a small workshop, allowing them to observe the expert hands of Buccellati craftspeople at work, performing the typical engraving technique that is a feature of all the Maison’s jewelry.

As Buccellati’s Executive Vice President Gianluca Brozzetti notes, “After over one hundred years since it was set up in 1919 by Mario Buccellati and on the back of its recent successes in the international markets, we felt that it was time to honor this esteemed Italian brand in its city of origin, by creating a unique, historic, prestigious space in the heart of one of the world’s most important streets for luxury goods”.

Chahan Minassian explains that “The palazzo’s vast Piano Nobile, with its extraordinary architectural features, original wood decorations and mosaic floors, was a real find. My aim was to coordinate and juxtapose these elements with the Buccellati identity, ensuring that the space would look as if it had always been there. Buccellati is a byword for luxury and history, and I wanted to showcase this heritage in a fresh, contemporary way that would make both the customers and the public feel at home”.

“As well as being a friend, Chahan has a highly refined taste that aligns perfectly with the Maison’s philosophy; it is no coincidence that he was one of the main players at our first major Design Week. We immediately felt a big connection with his thinking and approach, making it a natural decision to go forward with our partnership”, remarks Maria Cristina Buccellati.

Palazzo Gavazzi
The Piano Nobile is housed within the breathtaking setting of the Balossi Restelli family–owned Palazzo Gavazzi. It was built between 1838 and 1839 following architect Luigi Chierichetti’s Neoclassical design, featuring a smooth ashlar facade and a large balcony. Among the facade’s architectural highlights are four Doric-style pilasters, which are reprised by Corinthian- order pilasters to evolve into Caryatid statues. In addition, the palace’s interior contains period romantic frescoes along with mosaic flooring interspersed with small tiles.

Between 1840 and 1848, Palazzo Gavazzi was the home of Italian patriot, philosopher, political scientist, linguist and writer Carlo Cattaneo, who was the son of the Milanese goldsmith Melchiorre. As Carlo Cattaneo was also an exponent of republican thought, the Palazzo hosted many Italian Unification events connected to the Five Days of Milan.