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Studio Paradisiartificiali and artist Owen Gent turned a 37-square-metre former warehouse in Milan’s Navigli district into a short-stay studio shaped by surreal murals, colorful furnishings and a compact service core. The designers say the project, called Mysterious Baths, was conceived as a temporary place for travelers and draws on Giorgio de Chirico’s metaphysical art.
Studio Paradisiartificiali and illustrator Owen Gent have reworked a 37-square-metre apartment in Milan’s Navigli district into a short-stay studio with surreal wall art, bright furniture and a newly organized kitchen-and-bathroom core. The project, named Mysterious Baths, turns a former warehouse into a compact home intended for people spending a few days in the city.
The apartment had previously been used as a warehouse by an astrophysics professor approaching retirement, according to the project account published by Livingetc. The renovation was substantial: the designers say they added a ventilated crawl space, built a new roof with exposed timber beams and placed the kitchen and bathroom in a service core. The source does not give a project completion date or a renovation budget.
Artwork developed with Gent is a central feature. Arched murals create an imagined landscape of stairs and an oasis-like scene, while colorful objects and furnishings punctuate the otherwise white interior. Named pieces include Opinion Ciatti’s Yum Yum chairs, a cobalt-blue Oly Stool by noo.ma and a Krossing Maxi Bookcase by Kriptonite. The report describes the decor as dopamine-inspired; that is a characterization of the design, not a measured assessment of how occupants respond to it.
The designers say they worked with Gent on the interior and mural together, with each informing the other. They connected the project’s name and imagery to Giorgio de Chirico’s “I Bagni Misteriosi,” or “The Mysterious Baths”, a recurring subject in the artist’s work that later informed a sculptural work created in Milan in 1973. Livingetc credits the project design to Studio Paradisiartificiali with Owen Gent, styling to Giulia Taglialatela and photography to Thomas Pagani.
Art Shapes a Small Milan Stay
The project offers a specific response to a common constraint in city housing: how to fit the essentials into a 37-square-metre footprint without making the result feel purely utilitarian. The designers paired a concentrated service area with vivid furniture and large-scale artwork, making the visual identity of the studio part of the experience rather than treating the walls as leftover space.
It also frames a short-stay apartment differently from a permanent home. Lorenzo and Alessandro of Studio Paradisiartificiali say they were interested in accommodation as a temporary shelter for travelers, where brief encounters and unexpected impressions matter. That intention is relevant to visitors and design readers, but the source does not establish how guests use the space or whether the approach affects bookings, comfort or rental performance.
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From De Chirico to the Murals
The studio says the project’s reference point was de Chirico’s metaphysical art, which often places recognizable forms in unfamiliar, dreamlike settings. Alessandro said the designers were interested in his ability to turn familiar elements of Italian life into imagined landscapes. The name Mysterious Baths refers to a recurring theme in de Chirico’s paintings, drawings and lithographs, as well as a later sculptural work made in Milan.
Gent’s illustrations were selected because, in the designers’ account, they suggest a story without explaining it completely. The studio said the unresolved quality gives viewers room to bring their own interpretations. Studio Paradisiartificiali describes its wider practice as combining architecture, art, design and craftsmanship, with an interest in how spaces can carry narrative. The source provides this project description but no independent evaluation of the renovation.
“We found this idea of Mysterious Baths being a shelter for travellers passing through fascinating.”
— Lorenzo and Alessandro of Studio Paradisiartificiali
Project Details Still Missing
The published account does not state when the renovation was completed, how much it cost, who owns or operates the apartment, or whether it is currently available to book. It also does not specify the apartment’s exact address, the permitted occupancy, or the technical details of the new roof and crawl space. Those omissions mean the report supports a description of the design and work cited by the studio, but not a full assessment of the home’s performance, accessibility or commercial use.
The designers’ comments describe their creative intentions. There is no reported feedback from guests or independent evidence showing whether the layout works well in day-to-day use. Livingetc’s story is a design feature, not a building inspection or a rental-market analysis.
No Further Milestone Announced
The source account does not identify a public opening, booking launch, follow-up construction phase or other next step. For now, the confirmed development is the completed design described by Livingetc: a renovated Milan studio combining structural changes, a compact service core and artwork made in collaboration with Gent. Further details about availability, costs or the apartment’s operation have not been announced in the material provided.
Key Questions
Where is the studio apartment?
It is in Milan’s Navigli district. The source does not provide a street address.
How large is the apartment?
The apartment measures 37 square metres, according to the project report.
Who designed the renovation and murals?
Studio Paradisiartificiali designed the project in collaboration with artist and illustrator Owen Gent. Giulia Taglialatela styled the project, and Thomas Pagani photographed it, according to the credits.
What changes were made during the renovation?
The designers say they added a ventilated crawl space, built a new roof with exposed timber beams and created a service core containing the kitchen and bathroom. The source does not provide technical specifications or a renovation budget.
Is the apartment available to rent?
The source describes it as a space for people staying in Milan for a few days, but does not confirm its current availability, operator or booking details.
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