It is said that fortune favors the brave, and this adage certainly seems true of architects Arassociati’s bold design for Hotel Viu Milan. Representative of the regeneration of the urban environment around Porta Volta, the 124-room hotel stands out thanks to its exterior’s spectacular vertical garden. Rendered in sustainably-sourced wood, metal and bronzed glass, the hotel’s architecture is composed of undulating patterns of indentions and projections that define each story. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows flood the rooms and guest areas with natural light and proffer a firm sense of location with panoramic city views, ensconcing guests in an inviting, home-like setting reminiscent of a stylish Milanese townhouse.

For this project Molteni&C Contract Division furnished all the social areas (lobbies, restaurants, bars), bedrooms and suites with custom made fixed and loose furniture charachterized by delicate nuances and completed by a curated collection of objets d’art. That reinforce the impression of staying at a private residence—albeit one outfitted with impeccable taste.

The entrance of Viu Hotel displays the unconventional Freestyle sofa design Ferruccio Laviani and two D.154.2 armchairs, designed by Gio Ponti in 1954 and today produced by Molteni&C, thanks to an agreement with the Gio Ponti Archives, thereby preserving the legacy of the great Milanese maestro, which would otherwise have been lost.

Hotel Viu Milan’s fluid ground-floor social spaces open up through the lobby, a light and airy reception area centered around an oversized fireplace. Arassociati Studio and Nicola Gallizia Studio turned to the inimitable style of legendary designer and architect Gio Ponti for inspiration when creating the classical lines and artisanal-inspired interiors of the hotel’s entrance. The black basalt tiled flooring adds a contemporary touch to the space, while carefully-placed rugs mirror the linearity of the furniture design.

The flowing space leads to Bulk, an inclusive and informal restaurant conceptualized by Michelin-starred chef Giancarlo Morelli. Here, a subtle design shift influenced by the surrounding green spaces translates to hardwood flooring and the use of warmer, natureinspired tones. Taking inspiration from a Milanese cultural center that once resided on the site of the hotel, Bulk has been designed as a multi-faceted social hub centered around regional cuisine, served from the open kitchen. Low, cozy seating encourages languid lunches and casual coffee meetings, while the charmingly eclectic collection of vintage furnishings and design classics recalls images of an attic trove tucked away in a grand Milanese townhouse.

The crowning glory of Hotel Viu Milan, The VIU is the only hotel rooftop in Milan with an outdoor swimming pool that features stunning 360-degree views of the city skyline. Teak lounge furniture is set amid Mediterranean olive trees, creating an urban oasis where guests can while away halcyon hours between dips in the pool and bask in the sun’s warming rays from dawn till dusk.