cathedral glass partitions pay homage to local architecture in milan's satinine perfume store

SATININE STORE references milan architecture

In Milan, Mara Bragagnolo designs the Officina Satinine perfume store as a reinterpretation of the city’s historic entrance halls into a contemporary retail environment. Terracotta floors, cathedral glass, oak boiserie, and satin-steel details shape a tactile landscape that invites visitors to step inside and experience Milan through scent, light, and craft. Located in the heart of the Italian design capital, the project positions hospitality as its central architectural principle, balancing modern rigor with material richness and sensory depth.

store front with central view of the illuminated perfume display | all images by Riccardo Giancola and Tiziano Ercoli

historic italian buildings act as inspiration redesign

The project stems from a reflection on the character of Milan and its ability to blend rigor with intimacy, memory with innovation. The space draws inspiration from the entrance halls of Milan’s historic buildings: threshold places where architecture becomes a welcoming act. This vision translates into a project that elevates hospitality to an architectural principle, shaping an intimate environment where modernist rigor engages with contemporary sensibility. Like the entrance hall, Officina Satinine offers itself as a discreet and welcoming refuge in the heart of the city: a gentle form of luxury, meant to be shared.

The store unfolds through distinct yet interconnected environments: the portineria, a contemporary reinterpretation of reception, transforms the gesture of gifting into a ritual; the sensory room, a soft and private cocoon-like space, invites visitors to discover fragrances with all their senses; the curatorial area, conceived as an ever-changing setting, hosts collaborations and temporary installations, projecting the brand into a continuous dialogue with the worlds of design and art.

front view of the store with marble table display for perfumes and marble sink

local craftsmanship is key to perfume store aesthetic

The interiors of Officina Satinine combine design rigor with the excellence of local craftsmanship. The project was developed through close collaboration with local artisans and manufacturers, with particular attention to material quality and the regional supply chain. The connection with Milan’s memory is tangible in every detail: the Lombard terracotta-tiled flooring, laid using traditional techniques, connects the space to its roots; the glossy ceramic tiles, arranged vertically, pay homage to the textures of Milanese apartment buildings; the cathedral-glass partitions evoke the discreet luminosity of doors opening onto entrance halls.

Balancing these materials, the oak boiserie introduces warmth and hospitality, counterpointing the cardinal marble, the burl-and-mother-of-pearl counter, and the satin-steel details in a harmonious interplay of contrasts. From the wooden structures to the furnishings and lighting fixtures, every element has been custom-made and entirely handcrafted, in a process that celebrates artisanal mastery and the precision of Milanese making. The lighting, developed in collaboration with lighting designer Martina Frattura, envelops the space in a soft, diffused illumination that recreates the ‘satin’ effect from which the brand draws its inspiration.

main view and curatorial area with tiled and wooden shelving along marble podiums

green velvet room detail, view from the store when door is open

green velvet private room with soft furnishing and furniture by Azucena and Giorgio Bena

glass and wood door that connects to private room, detail of the desk made of radica with mother of pearl logo

the main store desk becomes a secret bar with high chairs

project info:

name: Satinine Perfume Store
interior and furniture design: Mara Bragagnolo | @maragold

location: Milan, Italy

photographers: Riccardo Giancola and Tiziano Ercoli

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: claire brodka | designboom