I’ve Never Seen A Studio Apartment Do So Much In Such A Little Space — It Conjures Up A Dream-State Landscape In A Mere 37-Square-Metre Home
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Studio Paradisiartificiali and artist Owen Gent have transformed a 37-square-metre apartment in Milan’s Navigli district into a short-stay home shaped by metaphysical art and vivid furnishings. The project, named Mysterious Baths, combines a substantial renovation with murals inspired by Giorgio de Chirico; details such as its cost and opening date were not provided in the source report.

Studio Paradisiartificiali and Bristol-based artist Owen Gent have turned a 37-square-metre apartment in Milan’s Navigli district into a compact short-stay home with surreal murals, bright furniture and a redesigned interior. The project, called Mysterious Baths, pairs practical renovation work with an art-led concept aimed at visitors spending a few days in the city.

The apartment had previously served as a warehouse for an astrophysics professor approaching retirement, according to Livingetc, which reported on the project. The designers said the client wanted a space for people passing through Milan. Rather than treating the home as a conventional place of permanence, the studio built its concept around temporary stays, encounters and unexpected discoveries.

The most prominent visual feature is a series of arched murals by Gent, described in the report as evoking an arid, dreamlike landscape. The designers developed the interior and wall art together, allowing each to influence the other. Colorful objects and furniture—including Opinion Ciatti’s Yum Yum chairs, a cobalt-blue Oly Stool by noo.ma and a Krossing Maxi Bookcase by Kriptonite—add contrast against the apartment’s white surfaces.

The work also involved substantial physical changes. The designers said they added a ventilated crawl space, built a new roof with exposed timber beams and inserted a service core for the kitchen and bathroom. The source report identifies the project team and design elements but does not provide a completion date, budget, floor plan or details about the apartment’s availability to guests.

At a glance
reportWhen: Featured in a Livingetc report; renovat…
The developmentA Livingetc report showcases Mysterious Baths, a renovated 37-square-metre Milan studio designed by Studio Paradisiartificiali with artist Owen Gent.

Art and Function in 37 Square Metres

The project shows how a very small home can be organized around both everyday functions and a distinct visual idea. The kitchen and bathroom are gathered into a service core, while the murals and furniture give the remaining space a clear identity. That balance is relevant to designers and homeowners considering how to make compact interiors feel intentional without relying only on storage or minimalism.

Its approach is also tailored to a short-stay apartment: the designers frame the home as a place of passage rather than long-term belonging. Whether that concept changes guests’ experience cannot be established from the report, but it helps explain why the project prioritizes atmosphere and discovery alongside renovation.

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De Chirico’s Mysterious Baths Reference

The project takes its name from I Bagni Misteriosi, or “The Mysterious Baths,” a recurring subject in the work of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico. Lorenzo and Alessandro of Studio Paradisiartificiali said de Chirico’s ability to recast familiar Italian scenes as imagined landscapes informed the apartment’s concept. His later sculptural work on the theme was created in Milan in 1973, the report says.

Gent’s murals were chosen for their suggestive, unfinished quality. The designers described his images as familiar yet elusive, leaving room for viewers to interpret them. Studio Paradisiartificiali is a Milan-based architecture and interior design practice whose work brings architecture, art, design and craftsmanship together, according to the source material.

“We made us think of the home less as a place of belonging and more as a place of passage and encounter; something brief and unexpected, but still capable of leaving a trace.”

— Lorenzo and Alessandro of Studio Paradisiartificiali

Project Details Not Reported

The source report does not say when the renovation was completed, how much it cost, who owns the apartment or whether it is currently listed for short-term stays. It also gives no measurements for individual rooms, capacity, accessibility information or explanation of how the new crawl space and service core affect usable floor area. Those details cannot be confirmed from the available material.

The designers’ account of the project’s intentions is attributable to them; claims about how visitors respond to the murals or whether the interior improves a guest’s stay are not supported by reported guest feedback or independent evaluation.

No Further Milestones Announced

Livingetc’s report presents the completed design and renovation but does not announce a future opening, booking date, follow-up phase or planned public event. The next practical step for readers interested in staying there would be to verify whether the apartment is available and under what conditions; the source material does not identify a booking platform or provide contact details.

Further confirmation about the project could come from the designers or property owner, particularly on the apartment’s status, renovation timeline and operating arrangements. Until then, the confirmed development is the design itself: a renovated 37-square-metre Milan studio conceived as an art-filled short-stay home.

Key Questions

Where is the Mysterious Baths apartment?

It is in Milan’s Navigli district, according to the Livingetc report.

Who designed the apartment and its murals?

Studio Paradisiartificiali designed the interior in collaboration with artist Owen Gent, who created the murals.

How large is the studio?

The apartment measures 37 square metres, the source report says.

What renovation work was carried out?

The designers reported adding a ventilated crawl space, constructing a new roof with exposed timber beams and adding a service core for the kitchen and bathroom.

Can visitors book a stay there?

The report describes the home as designed for people spending a few days in Milan, but it does not confirm that the apartment is currently available to book or identify a booking service.

Source: rss

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