Metaphysical Remix

Design: UdA ARCHITETTI - Andrea Marcante, Adelaide Testa Photo: CAROLA RIPAMONTI

Can a home in central Turin make three generations happy? Yes, it can, if it is renovated with both the present and the future in mind, without sacrificing the spirit that has characterised it ever since it was built. This is the case of this flat in Via Roma, in the centre of the city of Turin. The flat in an apartment block built between 1935 and 1937 (when this part of the road was constructed) was in need of renovation. Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa of UdA Architetti consulted the proprietors to make sure the renovations satisfied all their requirements. Three generations live in the home: a father, his daughters, and their grandfather. They all need their own spaces, for their individual daily lives and privacy. Constructive, stimulating dialogue between the architects and clients yielded optimal results. The renovation project aimed to restore the home’s original atmosphere, inspired by the perception of space and the rigour characteristic of Rationalist architecture and Metaphyical painting: the trussed structure of the entrance hall, made of plaster, repeats the street’s typical coffered arcades, while the little distortions in the perspective of the ceiling created with wallpaper and special plaster in the dining room recall the paintings of De Chirico. In this sophisticated setting, Ceramica Vogue supplied ceramic materials for the bathroom walls and floors. A leader in the field for years, the company supplies top-quality Italian-made enamelled porcelain tiles. The bathroom wall tiles are bevelled-edge tiles from Bisello collection in the same pastel hues as appear in the rest of the project. The 10x20 rectangular tiles have a bevelled glossy finish and are laid vertically. The bathroom wall tiles perfectly suit the architectural style of the rest of the home, furnished with custom-made furniture and rare items of design.