Equilibrium as a form of respect - Progetto CMR

EQUILIBRIUM AS A FORM OF RESPECT

Designing isn’t just about constructing shapes, it creates experiences, stories and emotions that accompany people throughout their lives. It is the design philosophy of Massimo Roj, architect and founder of the international Milan-based practice

by Veronica Lempi – ph. courtesy of Progetto CMR

Aclear method and a wide variety of areas of activity.

Together with his team, Massimo Roj, architect and founder of Progetto CRM, handles architecture and design projects ranging from residential to retail and yacht building. One example of CRM’s work is the new ODEON

experiential retail hub, set to become one of the city of Milan’s most iconic destinations. Located in the Piazza Duomo, its opening is scheduled for 2027.

The studio recently received a significant nautical accolade, being chosen as one of the best four projects in the creative “From

“A journey Home” is the name of the concept that Progetto CMR presented at the contest held by Cantori and Cantiere delle Marche: the main deck (rendering above) becomes a metaphor for the journey, with fluid lines and materials that evoke the wind and sea. The concept design has been selected as one of the best out of ten projects of the contest. Opposite page, Massimo Roj, architect, founder and CEO of Progetto CRM

The new Progetto CRM headquarters in Milan. All the studio’s know-how in one place – space planning, good sustainability practice and design elements by CRM. The Smart Working concept guides the entire project – six semi-levels that change depending on work objectives. A passion for rock music and its icons is the theme throughout

Land to Sea” contest, an unusual design challenge held by Cantori where ten Milanese architecture and interior design studios were invited to create interiors for a yacht by Cantiere delle Marche, using furniture and complements by the company, which is based in Italy’s Marche region, as a starting point for new design visions.

This challenge saw the Progetto CRM team deeply involved in a new design vision that shaped the studio’s approach, leading the architects to exercise a new design vision. Every space on board must be clean, essential, every gesture measured and every material able to resist time and movement. “This experience also influenced my way of thinking about interior design in general. Design means creating spaces that are

not only beautiful but emotionally significant, able to provide whoever is living them with an authentic experience”, says architect Roj. The design by Progetto CRM for the Cantori competition is called “A Journey Home”. It was created as a story, a narrative voyage rather than a one of shape. A design practice for Roi and his CRM, the “return” inspired by the myth of Ulysses and Penelope provided the theme. As a result, the team worked on the concepts of movement and waiting, adventure and protection, the timescape of the voyage and that of the home.

For Roj and his team creativity is a value that must always a dialogue with balance. No glitz or exaggeration – it’s a question of respect. An equilibrated project that can exist through time and fulfils the owner’s

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renovated in the in-depth redevelopment project of an old building that had stood unfinished and abandoned for years. The facade in precious eco-active glass fabric plays an aesthetic and functional role. Right, the concept design of the Oxygen EcoTower.

requirements now and tomorrow. With this in mind, the method that is the studio’s hallmark is based on the desire to create spaces that enhance quality of life, generate well-being and leave a lasting emotional impact. A value that’s found in the timeless teaching of the sea. Nothing is static, everything exists in relation. This principal is also fundamental to architecture – design means a dialogue with the context, resources and time. It’s a belief that encourages the architect to look with confidence to the future, too. “I believe it’s indispensable”, he says, “to build up a more responsible vision of the project, where sustainability, the quality of space and well-being co-exist rather than being separate concepts. In 2026, more than ever, design must be able to adapt, evolve and assimilate rapid changes without losing its identity”.

Above and left, renders of the soon-to-be-opened Odeon experiential retail hub in Milan. Left, below, the new stands at the Monza circuit. The design concept is by Sportium, a specialist company in the Progetto CMR group. They are part of a wide-ranging redevelopment programme promoted by ACI. Below, the new ‘The Sign’ complex, the result of urban redevelopment, intended to be latest-generation offices, in Milan’s IULM district