The building maintains the same existing volume, while the finishes of the facades and the openings have been completely revised and enlarged to allow a generous entrance of external light. A raised string course was proposed to restore a slight dynamism to the facade, otherwise uninteresting given the color constraint. The decoration was specifically designed for this project and handcrafted on site using plaster treated for external agents. The three-dimensional design – contemporary but classic at the same time – redefines the volumes and emphasizes the first level of openings. All the details – such as the ventilation grilles, the accesses and the flooring – have been studied to the best to ensure the absence of steps and a clean and minimal effect.

The living room and the kitchen corner

The open space with the living room is the main protagonist, with its 100 square meters of extension and the lattice beams, found during the demolition phase and subsequently enhanced by painting them with a very bright and warm orange, which recalls the Siena marble of the kitchen island.

The windowed walls have been re-plastered and treated with transparent paint to respect the industrial origins of this loft; the exposed plaster thus gives an elegant and continuous appearance. In contrast to the ceiling and the warm colored spots, the furnishings are dark; all the lower doors are covered with a micro-perforated sheet metal to recall the aesthetics of the mezzanine and the external railing; the doors of the upper part of the furniture are covered in Fenix, an anti-fingerprint, anti-stain, heat-resistant material.

The mezzanine

How to separate a function without using walls? There are different methods to define space; in this case, the key is height. The home office is located at a slightly higher level and is detached from the living room, creating a storage space (a really spacious closet!) in the lower part. We also hung the TV there, to obtain more than one function in one. Raising the height was essential to get closer to the roof, which is accessed via a ladder realized for the specific project.

The volume is made with metal structures and micro-perforated panels, following the strong industrial character that we decided to pursue. The see/don’t see aesthetic, in addition to being interesting, is less impactful in the spatial game of the living room. The worktop follows the entire surface, and is made of a thin sheet that disappears completely without creating further opaque visual obstacles.

Master bathroom

We leave the living room and enter the bathroom: a hub, a filter between the living room and the sleeping area, and an invitation to enter the walk-in closet, which in turn leads to the bedroom. The ante-bathroom thus becomes a flowing and fluid element, at the center of the house and very colorful to restore warmth and energy.

The shower area with sanitary fixtures on the contrary is very bright thanks to the skylight on the roof, which highlights the Green Forest stone – already used for the top with integrated sink. The shower tray is flush with the floor and forms a backdrop with the covering behind.

Guest bathroom

More contained but no less precious: the green marble also plays a role as a backdrop, interrupted by the insertion of the walk-in shower box. Also in this case, we designed a a bespoke furniture that leaves free the side near the glass to place towels on the bar that also becomes the handle of the furniture. A false ceiling hides the systems and makes everything more proportionate and related to the greenery of the project.

Bedroom

At the end of a large, very roomy and walk-in closet – made to measure according to the clients’ requests – we find the bedroom. Very bright and characterized by the presence of a beautiful wallpaper with a detailed design. The whole is completed by the bookcase and the bedside tables, also customized – like the walk-in closet – by the owner who made them specifically herself.

Playroom

Last but not least, the playroom: very bright, with a beautiful high ceiling and characterized by bright but harmonious colors at the same time. A wooden mezzanine allows for playing and activities on multiple levels, as well as making the space much more interesting. The double height always makes everything more interesting: in addition to having a new point of view, it allows you to play with more elaborate lighting elements, and exploit simple but impactful solutions thanks to the different height levels.

How it was

A very quick look to how it was before the intervention: a disused industrial building for which we carried out a residential recovery (with appropriate health and hygiene technnical adjustments, interventions aimed at energy saving, etc.).