Thematic Master Program · blend, online + in-person
Luxury Home - Italian Style
+ Green & Garden Design (indoor & outdoor)
This course explores the elegance of Italian-style luxury interiors and exteriors, combining refined aesthetics with contemporary sustainability. Students will learn how to design sophisticated living spaces and harmonious green environments that balance beauty, comfort, and ecological awareness, from indoor compositions to outdoor garden concepts inspired by the Italian art of living.
About the course
The course aims to train conscious and innovative designers within the field of contemporary living. The program seeks to cultivate a specific design sensibility by integrating methodological, cultural, and technical-applicative aspects. It is structured around an innovative design process that includes the scientific methodologies of Neurodesign (students are encouraged to complete or attend the related short course beforehand or in parallel) to develop original customer experiences in a sector undergoing profound transformation, with increasingly demanding clients. The course includes lectures dedicated to neuroscientific methodologies, as well as thematic classes focused on understanding how customer behaviors have evolved over modern decades and how they have significantly transformed in the five years following the 2020 global pandemic. The design component will allow students to apply these methodologies and insights to selected spaces identified by the instructors and assigned to small student groups.
Course objectives
- Provide an in-depth understanding of LUXURY HOME – Italian style design and GREEN DESIGN (terraces/private gardens)
- Develop skills to manage concepts of emotionality in order to design an innovative experience that is appropriate for the context in which the project is developed
- Master the principles of green & garden design for terraces and private gardens, as well as for interiors and winter gardens
- Acquire methodological and design tools to translate the essence of “Italian-style design” into an Interior Design project, culminating in a final project
- Recognize the basic principles of green design
- Select plants, materials, and sustainable solutions for both indoor and outdoor environments
- Understand the relationship between design, nature, and the client’s well-being
Course structure
Module 1: Foundations (recorded lessons)
Lesson 1: Historical Background and Sector Transformations
- Origins of the Made in Italy style and its evolution.
Lesson 2: The Design Method – Between Thought and Practice
- Through a process ranging from context analysis to the development of a solid and recognizable concept, students will be guided through the complete design workflow for the creation of luxury living spaces.
Module 2: The Bridge to the Contemporary (recorded lessons)
Lesson 3: Transformations and Evolutions
- A special focus on future trends, human behavior in different contexts, and how to interpret them for effective emotional design. Sensory perception and emotional response. Graphic representation methods.
Lesson 4: The Essence – Designing Luxury
- What luxury means today.
Lesson 5: Designing the “Italian Way of Living” (Claudio Multari)
- Operational definition of the “Italian Way of Living”: conviviality, spatial flexibility, indoor/outdoor continuity, domestic theatricality, comfort and well-being.
- How to translate these values into design decisions: layout, furniture, colors, textures, and atmospheres.
- Case Studies: Analysis of apartments and villas that embody this lifestyle. The role of bel vedere and aesthetic care in shaping interior identity.
- Objective: Provide a conceptual and practical toolkit to interpret and apply the essence of the Italian lifestyle in a project. Students will learn to design not just a space, but an authentically Italian living experience.
Lesson 6: The Essence – Designing the Concept (Marcello Prina)
- Understanding the client and their needs.
Module 3: Green Design Project (recorded lessons)
Lesson 7: Types of Greenery and Natural Materials
- Identifying main plant types and green furnishings.
- Differences between indoor and outdoor greenery.
- Real, artificial, and preserved plants: pros and cons.
- Vertical gardens, green walls, modular systems, decorative pots.
- Natural and recycled materials: wood, stone, plant fibers.
Lesson 8: Garden Types in Different Climates
- Identifying garden types and green furnishings.
- Understanding how climate influences plant selection and garden style.
- Overview of major garden types worldwide and their characteristics.
- Mediterranean, tropical, alpine, desert, and urban gardens.
- Plant adaptation and visual identity of each style.
Lesson 9: Greenery for Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
- Integrating greenery in interior design.
- Relationship between light, materials, and vegetation.
- Ideal zones for indoor greenery.
- Creative solutions: green walls, micro-gardens, suspended compositions.
- Colors, textures, and natural materials in interiors.
- Principles of comfort and sustainable maintenance.
- Types of outdoor spaces: terraces, courtyards, roof gardens.
- Outdoor furnishings, lighting, and resilient plants.
- Seasonal comfort and modular layouts.
Module 4: The Project
Lesson 10: Presentation of the Final Project (recorded lesson)
- Final lesson before the in-person session in Milan, including project exercises, reviews, and technical visits.
- Objective: Question time (questions must be submitted at least 3 days before the session).
Final Project and Examination
- Final Project: Students will develop an Interior Design concept for a luxury villa or urban penthouse that embodies the values explored throughout the course.
- Final Exam (In-Person): Oral presentation of the final project followed by a discussion with the evaluation committee (Prina, Vivanti, Multari, Pecchini, Riva). Assessment will be based on project coherence, depth of research, strength of the concept, and quality of presentation.
Assessment
- Monthly Assignments (40%)
- Workshops and Participation (20%)
- Final Project (40%)
- 150h (64h in presence)
Final exam
In-person final exam in Milan: oral presentation of the final project followed by a discussion with the evaluation committee.
Interested in Luxury Home - Italian Style?
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