Intervening within the historic fabric of Padua requires a sophisticated mediation between the layers of memory and the desire for contemporary domesticity. This renovation project, developed over a surface area of 75 sqm, undertakes a distributive overhaul to maximize spatial usability, responding to the desires of an eclectic clientele—whose taste ranges from Pop vibrancy to refined retro suggestions.
The rewriting of the home finds its starting point in the definition of the horizontal plane. The choice of oak flooring laid in a Hungarian herringbone pattern is not incidental, but constitutes the generating matrix of the entire intervention: a strong and elegant geometric layout that, recovering the tradition of historic interiors, acts as a fluid connective tissue for the articulation of the new spaces.
On this noble base, the volumetric reconfiguration is grafted. To resolve the dispersion of an originally oversized entrance, the project operates by addition: bespoke cabinetry in a dense terracotta color is inserted as a structuring device. This body acts plastically on the floor plan: it compresses the entrance path, concealing storage functions, and then expands into the living room. Here, changing function but not language, the chromatic presence transforms into boiserie and a scenic backdrop, offering a saturated background that welcomes the soft lines of the furnishings.
The living area is conceived as a scenario of material dialectics. The kitchen, in silk lacquer, works by subtraction, rectifying the asymmetries of the masonry shell. At the center, the table with a Ceppo di Gré top introduces a stone note of sober elegance, engaging in a tonal dialogue with the vibrant boiserie. On the opposite side, the project changes register: the wall becomes an expressive surface, where two wooden shelves horizontally cut the vertical plane covered in three-dimensional wallpaper. The geometric motif is a clear reference to Art Déco atmospheres, here reinterpreted through a contemporary sensitivity.
The tonal narrative continues into the sleeping area, defining an enveloping and introspective space. The master bedroom is designed as a monochromatic "box" in Sloe Blue, a choice that dematerializes the boundary between walls and ceiling, enveloping the room in a suspended atmosphere. Inside, the mustard bed and curved complements evoke a refined vintage flavor.
The visual journey finds its completion in the bathroom, where chromatic experimentation pivots to new shades: the olive green resin of the walls creates a sophisticated contrast with the bold lines of the black metal details and the dusty delicacy of the powder-pink vanity unit.
The result is an apartment with an atmosphere of cultured irony, where the nobility of the herringbone oak and the audacity of color coexist in an unprecedented synthesis. A space that demonstrates how, even in limited dimensions and historic contexts, interior architecture can generate scenarios with a strong and personal identity.
