Born to amaze
In 2012 Nick Maltese founded N+M DesignStudio in collaboration with Studio Tresoldi, born from the need of a heterogeneous group of young architects and interior designers, coming from different parts of Italy and different professional backgrounds, to combine experiences and skills to deliver complete and comprehensive projects, taking care of every detail, from concept to realisation. Thanks to the creativity and desire to experiment of Nick Maltese and Emanuele Tresoldi, the attention to the research of materials and light, and the combination of the different experiences gained in the various fields of architecture, the main ingredients of a team that aims to create new architectural trends are defined, using and mixing the different languages of the history of architecture and art. The core business of N+M DesignStudio ranges from design to interior design of commercial spaces, such as cocktail bars, restaurants and boutiques, through to hotels and resorts, never neglecting product design, as demonstrated by participation in the Milan Furniture Fair. The dynamic design approach, inspired by the principle of storytelling, is the distinctive element of N+M DesignStudio. Projects do not only speak of materials, spaces and forms, but tell stories capable of bringing architecture to life. N+M DesignStudio's Mission is the narration of the visions that inspire it daily. Telling "the" story is fundamental. From this comes the need to specialise in interior architecture and interior design, to transform clients and users into the true protagonists of the designed spaces. The studio tends to mainly set the trends in Restaurant Design, but also designs cocktail bars, retail spaces, disco clubs and hospitality structures. Every concept is born from an artistic and historical analysis of the territory or the space about to be designed. We often create tributes to various "legends" of art and architecture, whether painters or simple trend-setters of specific historical periods. The connection with art is fundamental in defining the mood of the project, and our studies, largely dedicated to classicism, inspire us deeply. This was the case with our latest project OTIVM, inspired by metaphysics and surreal neoclassicism.
OTIVM
Located in the heart of the Lombard metropolis, known for its frenetic pace, OTIVM was born: a space of approximately 400 square metres, the result of N+M DesignStudio's vision. Inside a building designed by Giò Ponti, the studio's architects and designers found the ideal inspiration to create a location that revolutionises and transforms classical architectural canons, giving life to new forms that evoke the revolutionary metaphysical painting of Giorgio De Chirico. Through a work that fuses principles of interior design and architecture, a location takes shape characterised by a theatrical and surrealist atmosphere. The staircase leading to the mezzanine is supported by an imposing neoclassical column, painted half in burgundy and half in midnight blue, tones that echo De Chirico's chromatic palette. Beside this column, conceived to punctuate the space, lies an area dedicated to dinner shows and performances. The bathrooms are set within a volume that, at mezzanine level, is separated from the rest of the space by a frosted ribbed glass partition, through which the washbasins can be glimpsed. The architects of N+M DesignStudio created this screened block specifically to offer guests a seductive image of female silhouettes reflected at the washbasins. The bar area features an open-veined marble top, whose veining reveals the shape of a gigantic mantis; the back bar echoes the volume of the bathrooms through the use of the same ribbed glass. Into this seductive and metaphysical atmosphere further elements are introduced: the elegant **Lisa** armchairs by SCAB Design, champagne steel details, the soft lines of the ceiling abruptly interrupted by the large column with its phallic symbolism and, finally, the lighting design created in collaboration with Viabizzuno, featuring 7 large chandeliers that reinterpret the clean lines of arches. It is during the after-dinner hours that one can admire how the architectural forms seem to come to life through the synergy between music and light design. OTIVM is therefore a place created to break the mould: a space defined by surrealist references, by physical forms that open passages towards metaphysical dimensions, by lines, colours and elements that live and move thanks to the artistic vision and dedication of Nick Maltese and the architects of N+M DesignStudio.