In 1935, Engineer Gino Briani designed a series of rationalist-style houses in the southern area of the Arcella neighborhood in Padua. In the year 2020, A and S decided to renovate an apartment in one of these buildings, originally called "Casa Tipo B, 2 four-room apartments."
In its pre-renovation state, the distribution of rooms, which had already been modified over the years, appeared inefficient, and the spaces lacked spatial relationships, were limited in their views towards the outside, and poorly lit.
The project aimed to reconfigure the internal volumes to create new relationships between the rooms while allowing more natural light to permeate the space. Two main solutions enabled this design approach: the first involved the creation of a large opening between the living area and the adjacent connection and service spaces. The second solution was the removal of false ceilings concealing the attic space in the living room and the main bedroom.
To replace the demolished walls, a glass partition serves both as a filter and a boundary for the living area, which ideally expands in size due to its spatial continuity with the staircase and kitchen. Simultaneously, the large double-height iron window in the staircase area contributes natural light to the living area.
Color choices were made to distinguish the spaces: the staircase area was painted in shades similar to the pink tones of Asiago Marble used for the steps, while the connection between the living and sleeping areas and the bathroom drew from teal tones.
Significant and valuable elements of the rationalist architecture from the 1930s were preserved and highlighted, including restored and painted cassettes in the staircase and bathroom, circular wrought-iron windows in the bathroom and kitchen, and the large window that illuminates the staircase area. Some structural elements were also revealed through selective demolitions, such as the wooden beam structure supporting the roof and portions of the walls stripped of their plaster, exposing the load-bearing brickwork. This created a dialogue between the previously hidden past and the present, with easily recognizable additions.
Newly introduced materials emphasized this distinction: light gray polished concrete was used for the living and sleeping area floors, highlighting the brighter tones of the staircase and hallway. Birch wood was used for custom furnishings, creating a connection between different spaces.
The intervention also encompassed the energy retrofitting of the entire building, involving the installation of an external thermal insulation system, roof insulation, solar panels, and a heat pump system to enhance overall energy efficiency.
Team:
Architect: vianello gasparin progetti
Project team: Serena Vianello, Tommaso Gasparin
Photography: Marcello Mariana
Material Used:
1. Fabris Danilo
2. Windows and doors - Finstral
3. Floors - 70 materia, Kerakoll
4. Custom-made furniture - Rabatto
5. Furnishing accessories - Asform Atelier, Dnd handles
