RH combines design and hospitality in first Italian Gallery
RH Milan, The Gallery on Corso Venezia, debuts RH’s first-ever design gallery in Italy – a bespoke retail and hospitality destination set within a 19th-century Neo-Renaissance palazzo.
Situated in the global capital of design and craftsmanship, the Gallery has been restored and reimagined as a first-of-its-kind retail and hospitality destination, representing one of the most significant physical expressions of the brand to date.
Timed to open alongside Salone del Mobile, RH Milan marks RH’s continued global expansion and growing influence as a thought leader, place maker and international arbiter of taste and style – seamlessly integrating luxury home furnishing collections from RH Estates, RH Interiors, RH Modern and RH Outdoor with rare art, antiques and artifacts from around the world.
Behind the historic facade, the Gallery unites classical architecture with a refined, contemporary interior, reflecting Milan’s enduring position at the intersection of heritage and modern design.
Spanning seven levels and 7,000m2, the retail and hospitality experience welcomes guests through bespoke four-metre glass and bronze doors. Entering the Gallery on Corso Venezia, guests will first encounter the Architecture & Design Library, framed by Romanesque arched windows.
The space features a carefully curated collection of rare and contemporary books from Italy’s foundational masters, including Vitruvius, da Vinci, Palladio, Brunelleschi, as well as modern masters Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa.
Commanding the centre of the Architecture & Design Library is one of the first modern printings of De Architectura Libri Dece (The Ten Books on Architecture) by first-century BC master Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius.
Vitruvius’ description of a man outstretched within a circle and a square inspired Leonardo da Vinci’s famed drawing, the Vitruvian Man, some 1,500 years after his death. His principles serve as the pillar of the RH design ethos – a study of balance, symmetry and perfect proportions.
Located on the lower level is La Volta, the brand’s first-ever Italian restaurant honoring RH Chairman & CEO Gary Friedman’s mother Angelina Ascari’s Italian heritage and his uncle Geno Ascari’s love of cooking. The subterranean restaurant was conceived as though it had been unearthed, the vaulted space unfolds within a stone-lined environment, enveloped in crème de moss limestone from the walls to the floors. A luminous mirrored antiqued glass ceiling reflects light throughout the space, complemented by custom Murano glass sconces handcrafted by Italian artisans.
The 178-seat restaurant opens into a dramatic double-height skylit dining room, defined by a glass and steel structure, punctuated by heritage olive trees and a focal sculpture installation Amore e Psiche by Fabio Viale. La Volta features an intimate bar space, open exhibition kitchen and private dining room illuminated by a bespoke chandelier installation composed of 645 cascading golden smoke Murano glass crystals, handcrafted by Barovier & Toso.
The Gallery integrates dramatic art and interior installations featuring RH collections on every level, including an exclusive preview of RH Estates, the brand’s latest design concept and most significant product transformation in the history of the brand, slated to debut globally in May.
On the first level, the RH Interior Design Studio unfolds as an interactive space providing an unprecedented level of professional design services. Additional resources include comprehensive design libraries presenting the brand’s vast assortment of rugs, textiles, bedding and furniture and lighting finishes, as well as a private client presentation room on the fifth level.
Level two is occupied by artistic installations of RH Interiors, an homage to refined design through the ages. On levels three and four, RH Modern pays tribute to 20th-century modernism showcasing visionary works by acclaimed designers.
On the fifth level, The World of RH Bar & Lounge offers the opportunity to discover the brand beyond the walls of the Gallery. Anchored by an illuminated glass bar, the space will feature digital installations showcasing RH’s places and spaces that define the brand.
At the rear of the palazzo is the Grand Garden Courtyard, a unique outdoor feature in the heart of Milan. Defined by structured paths of Palladio marble, the garden is lined with pleached trees and sculptural evergreens, integrating a series of intimately scaled RH Outdoor lounge spaces. At the centre of the courtyard, a grand coved skylight is revealed, presenting a view into La Volta restaurant that connects the landscape with the architecture and hospitality beneath.
