The Wilde Promises to Be a Next-generation Private Club in Milan for Extraordinary Experiences
The Wilde prides itself on being a “next generation private members club for extraordinary experiences in the heart of Milan.”
The detailed definition certainly describes what founder and chairman Gary Landesberg is planning for his latest project, since he aims to offer exceptional hospitality and cultural programs to a diverse global community — and plenty of good food.
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The Wilde Milan will open in mid-October in a 20,000-square-foot villa that previously belonged to Santo Versace and his family. The club is located on a quiet, leafy street a few steps away from luxury shopping street Via Montenapoleone. It was designed by architect Fabrizio Casiraghi under the creative direction of Alasdhair Willis.
Landesberg is an experienced investor in both the leisure and hospitality sectors in the U.K. and Europe and was previously executive chairman and shareholder of The Arts Club for a decade. He successfully led the repositioning of the London-based club and opened the doors of the Dubai unit.
After The Wilde in Milan, the entrepreneur plans to open clubs under this banner in London, New York and Los Angeles, each with a site-specific art collection. In the Italian city, the eclectic collection has been curated by Ed Tang’s Art Bureau and encompasses works from both Milanese and global artists from various backgrounds, including pieces by Diane dal Pra, Danh Vo, Andy Warhol, Vojtěch Kovařík, Nikolai von Bismarck and Adrian Paci.
The Wilde will join a slew of new clubs that have, or will, open in Milan, which is increasingly attracting wealthy investors due to the flat tax of 100,000 euros a year with no limits to residency that was introduced by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. While work on Milan’s Core Club have been delayed, Casa Cipriani opened on Via Palestro two years ago, and Soho House is set to arrive in a few years.
Landesberg thinks that “Milan is a very international city, with great culture, food and significance in the fashion industry,” but believes it was lacking a good private member’s club.
Finding the right building was key in making Milan the first location for his new project. The Villa Del Platano, built between 1953 and 1954 by architects Carlo De Carli and Antonio Carminati, met the requirements — and then some. It is located on luxury street Via dei Giardini in the arty Brera district and looks onto the park belonging to Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda. The Emporio Armani store and the Armani Hotel stand a few steps away.
“It’s an amazing street. Obviously, we’ve got residents nearby and we have to be very mindful of what’s going on in the area. But as a location, it’s fantastic. Because you’re right in the center but you don’t feel like you’re on a busy street. It’s quite special,” Landesberg says.
“Finding the right place is maybe the hardest thing. It has to have its own entrance because you’ve got to have a sense of arrival,” he explains, also stressing the “imperative” requirement to have an outside space. The villa, in fact, is surrounded by a lush garden and also features a rooftop terrace.
Design
Casiraghi’s experience ranges from working for French architect Dominique Perrault to Milan-based Dimorestudio. He renovated the famed Drouant restaurant in Paris, curated the concept of the Cassio bar in Hong Kong and the Ftelia Beach Club in Mykonos, among other projects.
At The Wilde Milan, he has created individual identities for each of the spaces within the club.
He turned to Milanese textile brand Arjumand’s World, which produces fine fabrics inspired by travel and ancient myths, for the patterns that pepper the villa. American walnut furnishings have been used throughout, juxtaposed against contrasting materials such as pink lacquered wood, velvet and classic travertine.
Brown natural hides are key elements in the cigar lounge Arturo’s, while red striped fabrics from Jim Thompson were chosen for the garden and blue stripes for the Ava Rooftop.
Casiraghi, says Landesberg, has been “very respectful with the building,” which has “a bit of an Art Deco” feel. “His design is very elegant but he doesn’t over-design. He doesn’t make it too busy. And I think he’s done a really nice job.”
Landesberg is adamant The Wilde should provide exclusive theater, musical and gallery nights, intimate chef’s table dinners, talks and panel discussions, cultural workshops, film screenings, themed parties, wellness events, and private gallery visits. At the same time, he is making sure members will be able to access the experiences virtually through a secure online portal, which will also allow them to make reservations for dining and events and view club news and announcements.
Fine Dining
Day-to-night dining will be available across The Club Room, with live music, weekly DJs, cabaret and theatrical performances; The Garden for brunch and aperitivo; The Library, for quiet reading and work that also suggests casual lunches; the Latin American restaurant, bar and counter Nina, with a Japanese influence, providing guest chefs and weekly DJs playing Latin American music; Ava on the third floor offering seasonal, authentic Mediterranean dishes and Ava Rooftop, on the fourth floor. Each floor will be marked by a different color.
The Wilde Milan will also offer private dining rooms and event spaces on each floor.
“It’s a cliché, but clubs should feel like your home. Even if you want to come and sit and just have a coffee or you want to have a drink or just hang out because you want to go read a document or the news. You know, that’s what a club should be. I mean, the food’s important and so is the experience,” says Landesberg. “I don’t think we should offer fitness or sports because there are specialists out there and will people going to a club, having a lovely bite of dinner or lunch in a nice suit or lovely dress, want to see people walking around in gym clothes?”
Keen to meet sustainability targets, Landesberg has made sure the villa was restored with energy-efficient practices such as low-flow water fixtures, LED lighting, recycling programs and energy-efficient appliances to help reduce waste.
Fees range from 2,000 to 3,500 euros a year and members, starting from under-40, should be inclusive and “across the spectrum, from fashion and business to finance and real estate.” The demand has been strong so far, he says proudly. “The doors are not closed to anyone from any industry but you’ve got to be recommended,” he adds. “The idea is to start with a good base of founding members that can really represent the kind of people that will be part of the community we want to build.”
Asked about the name, Landesberg believes “clubs should embrace old school service hospitality” but at the same time “bring in the new world,” as “everything is moving forward. So it was a collision of kind of two worlds. And that was the challenge, how the old and the new could come together.” He credits Willis for coming up with The Wilde, “because it was a bit of a nod to Oscar Wilde, but the wild is where everything comes together, whether humans, animals, everything.”
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