By Lauri Lyons

Throughout the centuries Milan has always been a city renowned as a crossroads for design and culture. Nestled between France, Austria, the sea and mountains, Milan has a distinct flavor that sets it apart from its European counterparts.

However, Milan has kept much of its beauty behind an industrial facade that hides its artistic interiors and lush gardens. Now, an Italian design open house is available at the touch of our fingertips.

With the publication of Entryways of Milan – Ingressi di Milano (Taschen) people are finally getting a glimpse into the sublime entrance halls of Milan’s public buildings and private residences.

The book’s editor, Karl Koblitz grew up in Berlin and was inspired to explore built environments and how they shape our daily lives. While working on this book he migrated from door to door, to gain access to spaces overlooked by the general public and design world.

The book features a stunning array of 144 of Milan’s most artistic entrance halls and architectural configurations that define Italian Modernism from the 1920’s – 1970’s.

The photographs juxtapose elements of stone, geometry, and murals that contain a symphony of hues that shift from cool earth tones to vibrant bursts of technicolor.

Entryways Milan is not only a visual homage to interior design, but it also serves as a detailed City Guide of Milanese architecture that includes the address of each featured location and essays by renowned Italian architects Gio Ponti and Piero Portaluppi.

If you love all things Italian or have a fetish for design, step into la dolce vita of Milan.

Photos © Delfino Sisto Legnani