Milan's Liberty-style Demidoff Hotel Painted Black Sparks Controversy

The Demidoff Hotel, a Liberty-style structure established in 1931 in Milan, has undergone a complete transformation with its exterior painted entirely black, igniting controversy among local residents and online platforms. Situated close to the Boschi-Di Stefano house museum, this hotel was constructed following a wager by engineers who had previously developed the Albergo Plinius, which was later renamed Demidoff. Architect Egidio Corti designed the hotel with a distinctive 'iron' shape. Locals have labeled the new black facade as 'depressing' and raised concerns regarding the approval process for this alteration. Massimo Scarinzi from Municipio 3 noted that municipal authorization was unnecessary due to the absence of restrictions, proposing a color plan for Milan to avert future disputes. A nearby building on via Farneti had previously faced similar backlash for its dark gray repainting.