The Dukes of Milan

FASHION'S DYNAMIC DUO GETS NEW DIGS

The Benedictine monastery has this marvelous garden surrounded by walls that we can see from our offices," says Stefano Gabbana, describing one of the many virtues of his company's new, 108,000-square-foot headquarters on Via Goldoni in Milan. "And there is another Franciscan monastery down the street." Whether the occasional sounds of monks praying will inspire the future collections of two of Italy's most idiosyncratic and creative "men of the cloth" remains to be seen. But there is no question that the building itself is inspired.

"For us, it is a perfect balance between tradition and modernity," adds his Palermo-born partner, Domenico Dolce. "There is a feeling of lightness and luminosity that we love."

Originally built in the 1960s and renovated by Studio & ARCH, the building exhibits allusions both to the Mediterranean and to the Sicilian roots of Dolce himself that are as discreet as they are unmistakable: gray volcanic-stone floors, majolica, a reflecting pool, and a series of volcanic-rock gardens featuring cacti, bamboo, and palm trees. With the sensuous use of sea-green lozenge-shaped skylights, rich teaks, and darkstained wenge woods, the building is as serene as it is startling. Although the headquarters has yet to "officially" open—"We're still settling in," says Dolce—there is talk of a party during the upcoming collections. Presumably, the talk is not coming from a monastery next door.

BRENDA CULLERTON