Perched on the Adriatic coast in Italy’s Marche region, NM Apartment is conceived as a refuge suspended between land and sea, where the boundaries between domestic space and the vastness of the horizon are deliberately blurred.
The sensation of being surrounded by water is more than a visual impression. It is the underlying idea that drives the entire project, shaping both its spatial sequence and material language. The interiors draw inspiration from the intimate, compact character of a boat, translating its distinctive atmosphere into a contemporary domestic setting. Entering the living area feels like stepping into the dinette of a sailboat. Its narrow, elongated proportions are articulated through a precise enfilade, creating a fluid sequence in which the different functions of everyday life unfold one after another.
The kitchen and dining area are entirely clad in dark wood, evoking the richness of nautical interiors and the craftsmanship of traditional boatbuilding. The material brings warmth and depth to the space while establishing an immediate connection with the maritime landscape beyond.
The living area, centred around the sofas, is conceived as a sheltered alcove. A built-in masonry structure, softened by generous upholstered cushions, recalls the protective intimacy of a boat’s cockpit. Facing the horizon, it becomes an informal retreat—an interior space that seems to extend naturally towards the sea. A bold, graphic floor visually ties the entire sequence together. Fresh and distinctly colourful, its pattern reinterprets the visual language of maritime tradition through a contemporary and playful lens, introducing a sense of rhythm and lightness to the interiors.
A sculptural arch marks the transition between the living and sleeping areas. Fully clad in the same dark wood used for the kitchen, it acts as both an architectural threshold and a powerful visual element, signalling the passage from the energy of the communal spaces to the calm of the private quarters.
Beyond the arch, the bedrooms reinterpret the essential character of a ship’s cabins. Cool, restrained and minimalist, they are defined by a lighter palette intended to foster a sense of rest and quiet. Yet the visual continuity of the apartment remains intact: the flooring runs seamlessly from the entrance through to the sleeping area, creating a continuous thread that binds the different spaces together.
Every detail contributes to the nautical narrative. Materials, proportions and bespoke elements have been carefully considered to reinforce the relationship with the sea without resorting to literal references. Almost every piece of furniture was custom-designed and made specifically for the apartment, allowing the maritime metaphor to emerge subtly through the architecture, craftsmanship and atmosphere of the interiors.
