It's no surprise that Italy's fashion capital, Milan, is the location of what has been described as the country's most avant-garde hotel, The Straf. Behind its classic facade ìan 1880s buildingì lies an ode to minimalism; an ultra modern space that utilizes industrial materials such as polished concrete, burnished brass, iron and gauze effect glass to create a futuristic palazzo unlike anything else in Italy.

Located amid Milan's busy streets, lined with architecture from eras gone by including the historic Duomo cathedral and iconic La Scala opera house, which are both within walking distance, the ultra modern Straf represents a neat cultural juxtaposition; the new Italy thriving right in the centre of the old. It's a rarely achieved harmonious union of tradition and urbanity.

The 66 room hotel was lovingly brought to life by brother-sister team Daniela and Gerardo Bertazzoni, who purchased the late 17th century building in 2000. Joined by architect and fashion designer, Vincenzo de Cotiis, they set about transforming the internal space into an alternate universe underpinned by an industrial aesthetic and a penchant for zen-like austerity. Every inch of the hotel is a showcase of raw materials; rooms with concrete walls, black-stone baths and shimmering copper paneling balanced by oversize pieces of art everywhere you turn.

Some reviewers have described the interior as too extreme, calling it òhard edge' and òbunker-like' but to do so is to miss the point. The Hotel Straf doesn't pretend to exist in isolation. It is the gleaming new kid on one of the world's oldest blocks - and one that is steeped deeply in ornate tradition and history. Experienced in this context, the Straf's futuristic industrialism is about creating balance and sending a gust of crisp air through one of the world's best-loved historic cities. by Billy T

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