This article Residence RHM has been publish on the Magacine Residende traveler on September 2023.
When asked about the biggest challenge during the transformation of the floor in the heart of Milan, Rodrigo Izquierdo takes a moment to reflect. He responds: “The challenge is, despite making significant interventions, to create an authentic feeling while simultaneously adding a modern, contemporary twist through furniture, textures, and color.” After a short pause, he adds: “Sometimes very intense colors.” He laughs. “Our client played a crucial role here. Whenever things seemed a bit plain, she would say, ‘I want more color, more color!'”
Izquierdo, a Spanish architect from Barcelona, worked for many years with Patricia Urquiola—one of the most renowned designers of this era. After thirteen years, in which he rose to Creative Supervisor, he decided it was the right time to start his own architectural and interior design practice. Rodrigo says, “That was a very natural process. I worked for Urquiola from 2005 at her Milan office, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Working at such a high level with the most exciting clients was a fantastic experience that enriched me as a designer. But we still collaborate on projects, like the interior design for the Four Seasons hotel in Milan.”
Through these joint ventures, Rodrigo experienced firsthand what makes Italy such an attractive destination for architects and interior designers. “The level of craftsmanship is higher here, or maybe I should say more modern and advanced, technically speaking,” he explains. “This ensures that, as a designer, you’re freer. You can think of anything, because you know it can be done. Nothing is too crazy.” This freedom in design is what struck him when transforming the home in the heart of Milan.
The home, located just a stone’s throw from the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie—where Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper can be viewed—actually consists of three apartments combined into one, covering 380 square meters. Rodrigo says, “It has a classic, rational layout, typical of Milanese buildings from the early 20th century. Because of that, it seemed like everything was already set. But in reality, we had to completely redesign the layout to better suit the needs of this family of four. And even though we made significant structural changes, it still feels authentic. That was important to me.”
Rodrigo speaks Italian with a charming Spanish accent and graduated cum laude from Eina, the Escola d’Art i Superior de Disseny in 2003. His decision to move to Italy was driven by his desire to gain international design experience. “I reached out to several design agencies I admired, and Urquiola took me in. The rest is history,” he says. “I gained a lot of recognition, which gave me the confidence to start my own design business. I now have a fantastic team of five permanent employees.”
For this project, after reconfiguring the spaces, Rodrigo sought unique materials and colors to give the interior its own character. “I didn’t just focus on decorative elements; I wanted to integrate these choices into the core of the interior design,” he explains. “There’s a difference between applying colors and making them part of the fundamental design. For example, in the entrance hall, the green-painted walls and a wall cupboard fully upholstered in burgundy textile create a specific feeling. The living room features green-and-white striped walls. It was fun to play with custom-designed objects, like the sage green cabinet or the high-gloss blue coffee table I designed specifically for the space.”
For the living room, Rodrigo had a dark red marble table custom-made, creating a beautiful contrast with the otherwise green room. “I initially wanted to leave the dining area white, but the client thought it was too neutral. That pushed me to rethink the space, layering in more colors and nuances, making the entire area more dynamic.” The result was soft gray paneling, a high-gloss white-black striped wall cupboard, a raw wooden table, and Thonet-style chairs in seaweed green. After a pause, Rodrigo reflects, “That was probably the best part of this project—having to revisit the design repeatedly and find solutions that excited both the client and me. It was about going just a bit further or doing something different from my original idea.”
