Fluid space

A LARGE APARTMENT IN A BAROQUE BUILDING IN ROME BASED ON AN IDEA OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CONTINUITY, TO MATCH THE RHYTHMS OF A BIG FAMILY. Flaminio Ponzio was an Italian architect of the late Renaissance, who designed many famous features of Rome. The apartment shown here is inside one of his buildings. Studio Riviello has reorganized its spaces to

meet the needs of a large family with a remarkable art collection. With its monumental size, the house is not just status symbol but also a true home, where the more public zones are always in contact with the everyday activities. The high-tech Bulthaup kitchen features oak cabinets and lacquered doors, as well as a thick worktop in Lapitec® for carefree food preparation. The project incorporates the existing coffered ceilings in various ways in nearly all the spaces The colors cover a neutral range of sand, cream and gray tones, perfect for the important works of art and antiques, and as a backdrop for the furnishings (including many custom pieces) selected by Studio Riviello, like the three gigantic (175 centimeters in diameter) Royal chandeliers by David Chipperfield and Mario Nanni for Viabizzuno in the main living area. Here the antique-modern dialogue is total: a bronze sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro rests on a custom table with a glass top, while three works by Lucio Fontana are placed on a nearby wall. Other elements include Japanese Imari vases and a Roman cabinet from the 1700s. The finishes, paneling, wardrobes and doors have been made to match the originals of the building. Solid oak has been chosen for the floors, while the brushed brass of the chandeliers returns in the handles of the wardrobes. Travertine, with its very “Roman” identity and elegant understatement, clads the outer courtyard, the bathrooms and the wellness zone.