Das Wilde prides itself on being a “next generation private club for exceptional experiences in the heart of Milan”.
The detailed definition certainly describes what founder and chairman Gary Landesberg plans for his latest venture, as his goal is to offer exceptional hospitality and cultural programs – and plenty of good food – to a diverse global community.
The Wild Milan will open in mid-October in a 1,858 square meter villa that formerly belonged to Santo Versace. and his family. The club is located in a quiet, leafy street, just a few steps from the 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 the leisure and hospitality sectors in the UK and Europe and was previously Executive Chairman and shareholder of The Arts Club for ten years. He successfully led the repositioning of the London club and opened the doors of the Dubai office.
After The Wilde in Milan, the entrepreneur plans to open clubs under this name in London, New York and Los Angeles, each with a site-specific art collection. In the Italian city, the eclectic collection was curated by Ed Tang’s Art Bureau and includes works by both Milanese and international artists from diverse backgrounds, including works by Diane dal Pra, Danh Vo, Andy Warhol, Vojtěch Kovařík, Nikolai von Bismarck and Adrian Paci.
The Wilde will join a number of new clubs that have opened or are about to open in Milan, a city that is increasingly attracting wealthy investors due to the flat tax of €100,000 per year with no residency restrictions introduced by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. While work on the Core Club in Milan has been delayed, Casa Cipriani opened two years ago on Via Palestro and Soho House is due to open in a few years.
Landesberg says that “Milan is a very international city, with great culture, good food and a significant presence in the fashion industry,” but believes that there is a lack of a good private members’ club.
A watercolour of the exterior of The Wilde Milan by Sarah Maycock.
Finding the right building was crucial to making Milan the first location of his new project. Villa Del Platano, built between 1953 and 1954 by architects Carlo De Carli and Antonio Carminati, met all the requirements – and more. Located on the luxury Via dei Giardini in the bohemian district of Brera, it overlooks the park of Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda. The Emporio Armani store and the Armani hotel are just a few steps away.
“It’s a fantastic street. Of course, there are residents living nearby and we have to be very careful about what’s happening in the area. But as a location, it’s fantastic. Because you’re right in the centre, but you don’t feel like you’re on a busy street. That’s something very special,” says Landesberg.
“Perhaps the most difficult thing is finding the right place. It has to have its own entrance because you have to feel like you have arrived,” he explains, also stressing the “indispensable” requirement of having an outdoor area. The villa is surrounded by a lush garden and also has a roof terrace.
design
Casiraghi’s experience ranges from working for French architect Dominique Perrault to Milan’s Dimorestudio. He renovated the famous Drouant restaurant in Paris, curated the concept of the Cassio bar in Hong Kong and the Ftelia Beach Club in Mykonos, among others.
At The Wilde Milan he has created an individual identity for each room in the club.
For the patterns that decorate the villa, he turned to Milan-based textile brand Arjumand’s World, which creates fine fabrics inspired by travel and ancient myths. American walnut furniture has been used throughout, contrasting with contrasting materials such as pink lacquered wood, velvet and classic travertine.
Brown natural hides are key elements in Arturo’s cigar lounge, while red striped fabrics by Jim Thompson were chosen for the garden and blue stripes for the Ava roof.
A depiction of Arturo at The Wilde Milan.
Casiraghi, says Landesberg, was “very respectful of the building,” which had “a bit of an Art Deco flair.” “His design is very elegant, but he doesn’t overdo it. He doesn’t make it too cluttered. And I think he did a really good job.”
Landesberg is adamant that The Wilde should offer exclusive theatre, music and gallery evenings, intimate chef-led dinners, talks and panel discussions, cultural workshops, film screenings, themed parties, wellness events and private gallery visits, while ensuring members can access the experiences virtually through a secure online portal, where they can also make table and event reservations and view club news and announcements.
Fine dining
The Club Room offers day and evening dining, with live music, weekly DJs, cabaret and theater performances; the Garden offers brunch and aperitivo; the Library offers quiet reading and work, as well as a leisurely lunch; Nina is a Latin American restaurant and bar, which has a Japanese influence and features guest chefs and weekly DJs playing Latin music; Ava on the third floor, which offers seasonal, authentic Mediterranean dishes; and Ava Rooftop on the fourth floor. Each floor is identified by a different color.
The restaurant Nina in The Wilde Milan.
The Wild Milan will also offer private dining rooms and event spaces on each floor.
“It’s a cliché, but clubs should feel like home. Even if you just want to come and sit down and have a coffee or a drink or just hang out because you want to read a newspaper or the news. You know, that’s what a club should be like. I mean, the food is important and so is the experience,” Landesberg says. “I don’t think we should offer fitness or sports, because there are specialists for that. And do the people who go to a club and have a nice dinner or lunch in a nice suit or dress want to see people walking around in sports clothes?”
Committed to achieving sustainability goals, Landesberg has implemented energy-efficient practices such as water-saving fixtures, LED lighting, recycling programs and energy-efficient appliances to reduce waste when renovating the villa.
A depiction of the Club Room at The Wilde Milan.
Membership fees range from €2,000 to €3,500 per year and members, who are under 40, should include all members “from the whole spectrum from fashion and business to finance and real estate.” Demand has been high so far, he says proudly. “The doors are not closed to anyone from any industry, but you have to be recommended,” he adds. “The idea is to start with a good base of founding members who can really represent the kind of people who will be part of the community we want to build.”
When asked about the name, Landesberg believes that “clubs should keep the old-fashioned hospitality” but at the same time “bring in the new world” because “everything is moving forward. So it was kind of a collision of two worlds. And that was the challenge, how could the old and the new come together.” He thanks Willis for the idea of The Wilde, “because it was a bit of a nod to Oscar Wilde, but in the wild everything comes together, whether people, animals, everything.”
