Casa tre Archi is an apartment located in the heart of Rome, on Via Frattina, just a few steps from Piazza di Spagna. The project stems from the desire to combine the charm of historical, traditional elements with a fluid, luminous, and distinctly contemporary spatial concept. The design challenge focused on overcoming the structural constraints of the original layout to create a flexible home capable of rediscovering natural light and celebrating materials.
The floor plan was redesigned to ensure maximum versatility: the apartment features two independent entrances that allow the space to be divided into two more private units when needed. The night area consists of two large bedrooms, each served by a dedicated bathroom. In particular, one of the bathrooms was designed with a double-door system—a functional threshold that allows it to open toward the living area as a guest bathroom or, conversely, to isolate itself for the exclusive use of the adjoining room. Steel is the recurring theme throughout the intervention, used not only as a structural or finishing element, but as a true light ampli- fier. At the entrance, a dramatic steel blade cuts through the space and captures light, guiding it into the innermost corners of the home. In the bedroom facing Via Frattina, an entire wall is clad in steel: the metallic surface intercepts sunlight from the window and reflects it geometrically indoors, altering the room’s atmosphere throughout the day. In the living room, the architecture evokes the soul of the Eternal City through a sequence of three arches. A formal element re- ferencing the monuments of Roman tradition, the arch is reinterpreted here as an optical device to expand space and create the illusion of enhanced geometric depth.
Furthermore, the rhythm of the three arches recalls three bricked-up openings identified within the existing masonry during the early stages of construction. These openings likely faced an ancient internal lightwell that no longer exists. The three new arches thus establish visual and conceptual continuity between the spatial memory of the site and the new intervention. At the center of the living area, the kitchen sheds its purely functional aesthetic thanks to a steel island with a completely open base. Designed like a large dining table, it ensures an open, flexible perception of the space, integrating seamlessly with the living room. In the background, deep blue lacquered kitchen cabinetry serves as a chromatic backdrop to the red wings of the arches, generating an evocative interplay of overlapping planes, reflections, and perspective references in constant dialogue with the steel blade.
The material palette plays on a sharp contrast between matte textures and reflective surfaces. The flooring features a warm, rough, and matte terracotta-colored finish, anchoring the project to the classic hues of historic Roman architecture. Paired with this are ivory-painted walls, which absorb light softly and diffusely. In stark contrast to the matte floor, the furniture is finished in high-gloss lacquer. The chosen colors are deep and saturated, yet rigorously calibrated and never overly bright—designed to harmonize with the warm undertones of the floor and turn every piece of furniture into an active surface that echoes light throughout the spaces. In the bathrooms, the layout follows the same philosophy: the arrangement of elements screens and protects the most private areas, allowing the more visible, sculptural washbasin zones to dialogue with the spatiality of the bedrooms. In summary, the Casa Tre Archi project seeks a balance between spatial flexibility, references to Roman tradition, and a thoughtful combination of light and materials.
