#5 10 Corso Como

Corso Como, Milan, Italy

10 Corso Como was created in a renovated Fiat garage in the inner courtyard of a traditional Milanese palazzo. Unlike traditional Department Stores, 10 Corso Como describes itself as a ‘concept store’ bringing together work from the best designers, architects, and artists from all over the world.

Former fashion editor and publisher, Carla Sozzani, founded the store in 1990 and envisioned it becoming a visual narrative designed like a living magazine.

The store combines commerce and creation. Over the years has delivered hundreds of exhibitions. As a result, the interior is constantly changing.

Two stand out areas in the store includes the 10 Corso Como café and Hotel 3 Rooms. The café has kept the structure and form of the original building. It features a glass-painted ceiling that changes with the light creating a different ambiance as the day turns to night. A gold resin-store brings glamour to the room and a round bar stands in the middle of the space.

Hotel 3 Rooms is another factor that separates Corso Como from traditional department stores. It consists of three suites that can be accessed through a private entrance. Inside, the rooms are decorated to pay homage to mid-20th-century architects and designers from around the globe.

If you are able to tear yourself from the beautiful exhibitions inside the store, make your way up to the roof terrace which has been stylishly designed to combine nature and art. Currently, it hosts contemporary sculptures and works of art by Kris Ruhs.