Where Giorgio Armani lived: all the homes of the “king of fashion”

He passed away at age 91 Giorgio Armani, the designer who was a symbol of Italian fashion around the world for decades. “King Giorgio” dressed men and women with a timeless, timeless style, leaving a mark even in the universe of home design.

Who was Giorgio Armani

Patron of the fashion house of the same name, Giorgio Armani began his career among the windows of Rinascente in Milan, dealing with visual merchandising and entering, in fact, for the first time, the world of catwalks.

A very prophetic employment that saw the designer, years later, become one of the greatest spokesmen of Made in Italy the world, getting to dress Hollywood celebrities, not only at the most famous movie galas, but also on the set.

From Piacenza to Milan, and again News York, Paris, Moscow, Armani has changed the way of seeing and living fashion, building, day after day, a solid company that is continuously in step with the times.

An indissoluble bond, that between the designer and the art of dressing, which has found its fulfillment in the recent line dedicated to the home. The passion for beauty andinterior design has translated into a new professional adventure, introducing the Italian brand to the world of furnishing.

The style of Armani Casa

His “Armani Casa” is a line of designer furniture, which – the designer explained – expresses all

“aesthetic philosophy that is embodied in simple lines and perfect proportions, enriched by precious materials, refined finishes and elegant fabrics. The minimal style harmoniously combines different design inspirations and codes, creating a sophisticated atmosphere“.

Where Giorgio Armani was born

Born in Piacenza, the great fashion designer has always maintained strong ties with his hometown. The colors and traditions of Piacenza have also strongly influenced Armani’s style, especially when it comes to the choice of shades that have become synonymous with his collections today, such as greige.

All the homes of “King Giorgio”

The house in Milan

It was 1984 when Armani settled into what is still his main home (in fact, the style guru boasts a collection of apartments and villas in Italy and around the world), in the heart of Milan: more than 2,000 square meters spread over three floors in a 17th-century palazzetto among the city’s most central streets.

The mansion presents itself as a harmonious place full of light, where the tones of white dominate and act as a fil rouge for the entire apartment.

From the entrance to the bathrooms, nothing is left to chance: the black floor, as well as the fixtures, the huge two-walled bookcase and the stairs; the marble, the furnishings and the large columns of the living room, white. Underlining the gentle and balanced contrast between the two realities are the floor-to-ceiling windows that invest all the rooms, from both exposures, with natural light.

Although located in the center of Milan, Giorgio Armani’s home is quiet and surrounded by peace. On the one hand, overlooking the garden projects those who live there, even if only with their eyes, into an ethereal place, where all worries disappear to leave room for quiet; on the other hand, overlooking the street gently brings one back to metropolitan reality, without ever encroaching on the space of tranquility enjoyed by the entire mansion.

The style is clean, with simple lines from all over the world. In Armani’s home the 1930s, the 1940s, ethnic and oriental styles come together to create a perfect and uncluttered mix.

A true retreat, then, where the designer likes to retreat to enjoy solitude, but also to rediscover the pleasure of spending time with loved ones.

“In Milan I changed address several times, but when, in 1982, I saw the house on Via Borgonuovo I knew it was the right one. It is an imposing 17th-century building, but I didn’t want it to become a representative house, but rather a quiet island for me and close friends. Together with Peter Marino, I enhanced the materiality of the spaces. The interiors embrace different eras and styles, from the 1930s to the 1940s, with ethnic echoes. From my latest collection, I chose graphic and chromatic objects that fit well into the context“

said the designer speaking about his Milanese abode.

I dammusi di Pantelleria

When he was looking for a refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the city, “King Giorgio” loved to reach his home of Pantelleria, where he owned a villa with seven dammusi at Cala Gadir (a quaint fishing village on the northeastern side of the island).

“I think I can consider myself among the first tourists to Pantelleria. But it was not love at first sight, quite the contrary. At first I found it barren, surly, rough, with no amenities or sandy beaches, with the rocks providing bruising and a constant feeling of discomfort. I couldn’t wait to leave.”

explained to Sole 24 Ore. But the encounter with Cala Gadir was magical and convinced him not only to stay but to buy three dammusi (later to become seven) and to furnish them in minimal style.

“The vacation home should make one dream, represent a break from the daily grind of work, to treat oneself also to the pleasure of the company of family members, and friends, but only those who have no cravings, pretensions, scripts”

said.

Vacation home in Forte dei Marmi

For Giorgio Armani, the Versilia was synonymous with summer vacations. His historic vacation residence is located at Forte dei Marmi.

Here is also located La Capannina, a historic venue founded by Achille Franceschi in the early 20th century and purchased by the “King” a few weeks before his death.

The “little Versailles” of Broni

In the province of Pavia, Armani owned a historic mansion of which he had preserved the original layout, with coffered ceilings, terracotta floors, period chandeliers and woodwork. Not surprisingly, the mansion was nicknamed “the little Versailles of Broni.”

Saint-Tropez

A splendid villa with a swimming pool, surrounded by greenery and lavender gardens, with spacious and bright interiors. That of Saint-Tropez is a mansion where the designer from Piacenza has built a true oasis of calm and tranquility.

The villa in Antigua

Villa Serena opens directly onto the sea of the Caribbean, with a private beach, large terraces and outdoor showers. The interiors reflect the understated and minimalist style typical of Armani Casa.

The house in Paris

“Living in Paris is like immersing yourself in another world, it is definitely different from my daily life in Milan. The joie de vivre, the eccentric elegance that combines formality and playfulness, always fascinates me. Paris possesses a lightness that only the depth of culture can bring out. I immediately fell in love with this city, and I still love it to this day.”

commented to AD about his abode in the French capital.

Among the forests of St. Moritz

Nestled in the mountains of Switzerland sits a 17th-century villa that “King George” purchased and restored with the goal of transforming it from the classic Engadine-style mansion into a home with a Japanese aesthetic , enhanced by objects and mementos from his many travels.

The penthouse in New York

Completing the list of Giorgio Armani’s homes is a penthouse in New York, specifically in Manhattan. The apartment, purchased by the designer in 2019 for more than 15 million, has a view of the iconic Central Park and beautiful stained glass windows that give the interior a mystical atmosphere.

Top image, credits to @ giorgioarmani