Casa Brera, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan, Italy
A Rationalist Landmark Reimagined by Patricia Urquiola
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A masterful restoration of Pietro Lingeri’s 1950s Rationalist landmark in the heart of Brera.
● Interiors by Patricia Urquiola that elegantly fuse Milanese modernism with rich materials and sculptural design.
● One of Milan’s most compelling new luxury hotels, where architecture, art, gastronomy, and design converge.
A Milan Icon Reawakened
Casa Brera occupies one of the city’s most distinguished modernist buildings. Originally designed in the 1950s by Italian Rationalist architect Pietro Lingeri, the landmark has been carefully transformed into a contemporary luxury hotel by Patricia Urquiola. Rather than simply restoring the building, she reinterprets its architectural language, preserving its disciplined geometry while introducing warmth, texture, and unmistakable Milanese sophistication. History remains visible. Innovation feels entirely natural.
Patricia Urquiola’s Milan
The interiors celebrate Milan as a global capital of design. Italian granite, Fior di Pesco marble, walnut, brass, and richly textured fabrics establish a palette that feels both refined and welcoming. Throughout the hotel, geometric motifs drawn from the building’s façade reappear across floors, ceilings, and walls, while bespoke furniture by Urquiola for Cassina, Moroso, and Andreu World creates a seamless dialogue between architecture and interior design. The Living lounge forms the heart of the hotel. Its mirrored ceiling, Verde Alpi marble bar, sculptural seating, and striking photograph by Tim Walker perfectly capture the city’s enduring relationship with fashion, art, and craftsmanship.
Rooms with a Milanese Identity
The 101 guestrooms and 15 suites continue the same carefully considered narrative. Walnut wood, marble, printed glass, brass detailing, and custom artworks create interiors that feel unmistakably Milanese without relying on obvious references. Generous suites extend onto private terraces overlooking Brera’s rooftops, while the Presidential Milanese Suite offers expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces that blur the boundary between city apartment and luxury hotel. Everything feels tailored. Nothing feels excessive.
A New Culinary Destination
Casa Brera approaches dining with the same ambition as its design. Andrea Berton leads both Scena and the rooftop restaurant Etereo, where refined Italian cuisine is served against sweeping views stretching from the Duomo to Porta Nuova. Meanwhile, Odachi introduces an intimate Japanese dining experience led by Michelin-starred chef Haruo Ichikawa, adding another sophisticated layer to the hotel’s cosmopolitan identity. Every space has its own atmosphere. Yet they all speak the same design language.
At the Heart of Brera
Located moments from Teatro alla Scala and surrounded by Brera’s galleries, boutiques, cafés, and historic streets, Casa Brera places guests within Milan’s creative heart. Few addresses offer such immediate access to the city’s architecture, fashion, and cultural life while remaining deeply connected to its own architectural heritage.
Why It Works
Casa Brera succeeds because it never treats design as decoration. Patricia Urquiola understands that Milan’s greatest interiors emerge from architecture itself, allowing materials, proportion, craftsmanship, and history to shape every experience. The result is a hotel that feels unmistakably Milanese—cultured, contemporary, and quietly confident.
