Just a few steps away from the lively heart of the old town, tucked behind the courtyard of an early 20th-century casa di ringhiera (traditional Milanese apartment building), lies an unexpected architectural gem: the Galli Cavalcabò engineering and architecture studio. Their renovation project has breathed new life into a former 1930s winery, seamlessly integrated into a concrete industrial building. The space thoughtfully preserves and reinterprets original elements from different eras—ranging from the old concrete wine vats to an inner courtyard created by a surgical cut in the roof that now floods the interior with air and natural light.
The refined furnishings, vast material library (materioteca), and unique architectural details all reflect the studio’s meticulous design approach—a heterogeneous synthesis of experience, memory, aesthetic sensibility, and research. Founded by Maximiliano Galli, Giovanni Leonardo Cavalcabò, and Ester Elena Galli, the studio brings together professionals from diverse disciplines united by a shared passion for the great masters and local artisan traditions.
Galli Cavalcabò’s projects span from the renovation of historic villas and buildings—where sensitive architectural interventions engage in a respectful dialogue with artistic and natural heritage—to interior design for residential and commercial spaces. Historical elements are enhanced through the vision of the three founders, who blend tradition and contemporary taste with precision and balance, ensuring modern comfort and functionality while preserving the spirit of the original architecture.
During the sixth edition of the Lake Como Design Festival, the studio opened its doors to the public for the first time, hosting a temporary exhibition in its captivating underground spaces. The founders’ ambition is to turn the atelier into a creative hub for the city of Como, through a carefully curated program of cultural and artistic events.