Raw and Refined: Inside a Renovated Brutalist Apartment in Rome

A Brutalist-inspired apartment in the suburbs of Rome in Tor de’ Cenci recently received a complete renovation by STUDIOTAMAT. Designed for a lawyer couple, the project consisted of renovating the 120-square-meter apartment, along with a coveted 40-square-meter terrace. The Casa Rude residence overlooks the Castelporziano Nature Reserve offering both wooded and sea views, an ideal locale after years of living in small apartments in the heart of the city. Now, their space is filled with natural light, original character, and modern conveniences.

“What guided us in the design was the desire to enhance the distinctive features of the unique terraced building, dating back to the 1980s, which houses the apartment. We wanted to restore fluidity to the spaces, encourage the opening, and the discovery of pre-existing materials and details, on which to set a new vision,” says STUDIOTAMAT co-founder Tommaso Amato.

The main living area is designed much like a open plan loft with unfinished walls and the support structure’s exposed concrete visually connecting the spaces.

Paired with the original Brutalist details are a variety of tones, textures, and materials that add up to a visually enticing space. The roughness of the terracotta tiles on the oval island and concrete pillars are juxtaposed with the smooth Patagonia marble countertops that connect the two.

A custom dining table with a Shou sugi treated wood top rests on a black base and a glossy red ceramic leg for a sleek look.

A large, multifunctional birch wood cube is built to hide the pantry, hold coats, provide storage, and house a TV.

A wall of perforated bricks separates the living room and home office allowing natural light to pass through. A custom desk extends out from the built-in shelves and is held up by a circular red wheel, complementing the dining table’s leg a few feet away. The wheel allows the desk to roll along on a track to a new position.

A pivoting door visually separates the public areas from the sleeping area, which houses a main bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and a guest room.

In the primary bedroom, sliding ribbed glass doors offer privacy to those in the bathroom while allowing light in.

The large terrace features an outdoor kitchen, seating areas, dining space, and outdoor shower, all of which benefit from sunset views.

Photography by Serena Eller Vainicher.

Bedbugs

I was trying on brassieres at Azaleas, the one next to the Ukrainian National Home on Second Avenue. All the brassieres looked terrible on me. This is because I have very small breasts (which is okay, because I have absolutely fabulous areolas). I picked out one that was a very pale blush pink, and paid seventy dollars for it. Then my phone rang. It was my roommate. There were bumps all over her body. “They are very itchy,” she said, and asked me if I had them, too. I did not. When I got back to our apartment in South Brooklyn, I stripped my sheets off my bed. There was a large brown bug sunbathing on my mattress. I poked it with a pen. It made a movement that seemed to say: Ouch. I scanned the bed: there was a constellation of ink-colored droplets. 

The bedbug summer was in 2019. I had just turned twenty-three. I was working at Vogue as an assistant. I was making very little money. I thought I was punk because I would often show up to work with a gin hangover, plug in a pair of headphones, and play YouTube videos where various artists performed industrial music. I thought I was punk because all of my clothes were from the garbage or had been gifted to me by people who also worked at Vogue (okay, I did buy stuff, like the bra). I thought I was punk because I was dating a former child jazz prodigy who lived in a DIY venue in Gowanus with no shower, no kitchen, but massive windows, hardwood floors. A posh nightclub had opened up next door and I sometimes went there to pee because I liked the soap. It all made me feel very cool even though in reality it was pathetic. My boyfriend slept on a twin-sized cot inside of what was functionally an electrical closet. He was the first person I called about the bedbugs. That evening he took me to the nightclub and bought me a cocktail. He had a freckle inside his eyelid and it looked like a wet pebble. I was totally in love with him.

It was not a good situation. The next morning, there was a large man in my apartment. It was the Fourth of July. The man was wearing a hazmat suit. He was going to do what he called a radical intervention re: the bugs. It involved a breakthrough in technology. He had come from New Jersey in a Sprinter van. He met us at an ATM on Newkirk Avenue so we could pay him in cash. My roommate tried to blame the whole thing on me. And why wouldn’t she? She had a nice boyfriend in medical school who liked to cook her dinner. I told her that she was insane, to make me pay for the whole thing. This was New York City. Nefarious individuals could have come into our home during the night and sprinkled the bedbugs on our sheets. We had to at least get the landlord involved. The landlord called us gullible idiots and then said she’d split it three ways because the exterminator we picked was too expensive. The man left our house. I still was not itchy. On the internet it said not everyone was allergic to bedbugs. I liked this fact: I was some kind of biological miracle? I did not want to spend any more time in the bedbug apartment so I went to my boyfriend’s DIY venue and poured a bottle of Bailey’s into an XL Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee cup, and then we took the subway to Far Rockaway. 

After a few weeks, the bedbugs were physically gone, but I continued to see them everywhere. In my clothes. In my backpack, which I had taken to ironing at least twice a day just to be safe. I had given them to everyone at Vogue, probably. There was this thing where my boyfriend told me that a woman he used to fuck also had gotten bedbugs, not long before we started dating. I started flipping over the mattress on his cot to inspect it every time he went to the bathroom after sex. I would crawl around on the floor completely naked, aiming my iPhone flashlight at the ground, like a coal miner. I was subsisting on a lot of Cool Blue Gatorade and really cheap Thai food. Around this time I was attacked by a cat in a bodega. It became clear to me that my boyfriend was probably addicted to smoking marijuana. I had basically stopped letting people into my apartment, including myself. 

I decided I was being punished, Old Testament–style. I would sit at my desk at work and think of how I had been affected by each of the biblical plagues:

(1) Water turning to blood: I had been menstruating for almost a decade at this point.
(2) Frogs: I had seen frogs in various ponds. 
(3) Lice: I had been spared from this one, so far.
(4) Flies: I am from upstate New York and they are always talking about black fly season there. I had personally experienced this—a swarm of them around my head in the High Peaks Wilderness.
(5) Livestock pestilence: I used to eat semi-rancid deli meat when depressed.
(6) Boils: To this day I am a hormonal acne sufferer.
(7) Hail: Again, from upstate New York. There is a joke among locals that is like, What are the seasons in upstate New York? Winter, winter, winter, roadwork. Ha ha ha.
(8) Darkness: Constant, neverending.
(9) Locusts: This was the bedbugs.
(10) Slaying of the firstborn: A false positive from a pregnancy test purchased at a pharmacy near the Jules Joffrin station in Paris. The father would’ve been this guy Antoine, who used to pick me up from school at La Sorbonne and then have sex with me while we watched music videos by the artist Micachu and the Shapes on the television in his apartment in Belleville. He was a decade older than me. He was one of the first people that I’d ever had sex with. If we’d had a daughter she would’ve been so pretty. 

By the start of the fall, I had completely lost my mind. It was comical. I started seeing a therapist and was swiftly diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. My boyfriend had made it clear to me that even though I loved him, he did not love me. I was tired of being punk. I was tired of walking around in a bikini as a shirt. It was all such a weird season. In January 2020, after a long breakup—far overdue—I moved to a small but stunning apartment on the fourth floor of a brownstone. There were no bedbugs there. My new roommates were nice. I pushed my bed into a corner and sat on the fire escape and drank wine out of a mug. The plagues were over (or so I thought). A few months later, I realized that all my clothes were infested with moths. 

 

Sophie Frances Kemp is a writer in Brooklyn, originally from Schenectady, New York. She has published non-fiction in GQ, Vogue, and The Nation, and fiction in The Baffler and Forever. She has a forthcoming novel called Paradise Logic.

A Bright Prague Apartment With Colorful Accents + Built-in Nooks

Welcome Home is a recently completed project by No Architects, who designed a modern apartment for a family with small children. The Prague apartment received a reconfigured layout that includes a new multipurpose room that works as a study, playroom, and guest room. Sliding doors can close to hide the room from the living room when it’s not in use or for privacy when someone is visiting or needing to work. Even with the doors closed, the open kitchen, dining room, and living room provide ample space for the family to enjoy.

The unique kitchen boasts an oval, angled island with two bases in different finishes. The larger white base rests upon an elevated floor decked out in a patterned tile, while the wood column base sits on the main herringbone floor. The cabinets include a row of wood fronted uppers with light blue cabinets surrounding them.

The blue cabinets curve at one end, complementing the curves of the island and raised tile floor.

A double-sided, navy blue leather sofa floats in the center of the living room surrounded by built-in storage and display cabinets. One side of the sofa faces the television, while the other looks towards the windows with views of Prague.

The combo room just off the living room houses an elevated, built-in bed with storage under and behind it. On the opposite side, a light blue desk setup lives beside a large wooden storage cabinet with red legs.

The all-white hallway gets a boost from a cobalt blue console table that rests against the wall.

A seating nook with storage is built into the hallway near the front door, offering a good place to drop belongings after entering the apartment.

More wooden storage cabinets with red legs outfit the entryway.

A child’s room features a modern bunkbed that’s complete with storage, stairs, hidden lighting, and a privacy screen.

Photos by Studio Flusser.

A Portland Apartment Undergoes Bold Transformation by Casework

What began as a kitchen renovation and floor replacement in 2021, turned into a major renovation of a condo in Southwest Portland, Oregon. Overhauled by Casey Keasler, founder of interior design studio Casework, the once dated apartment needed its spaces reevaluated to make it work for the long time owners. The results of the bold transformation have brought about a modern and fresh aesthetic seen throughout, most notably in the main living space.

The contemporary kitchen stands out with its cabinets painted soft Rushing River green by Benjamin Moore. Paired with the marbled Dolomite countertops, island, and backsplash, and walnut elements, the kitchen feels high end yet livable.

Casework worked with general contractors, Hammer & Hand, to complete the transformation, which was inspired by some of the homeowner’s favorite museums and spaces, including The Walker in Minneapolis, SFMOMA, Portland’s Snow Peak store, and Stockholm’s Ett Hem. The couple loves clean, contemporary interiors and the use of natural materials, which Keasler incorporated into their new space. The design theme can be broken down into three works – purposeful, clean, and cultivated.

White oak flooring throughout the main areas and bedrooms, lightened the overall appearance of the space.

The main bathroom is contemporary with a classic feel, thanks to the mix of the textured marble pattern, rich wood details, and clean, white and grey tiles.

Rich shades of blue outfit the main bedroom, alongside lighter elements like the flooring, headboard, nightstands, and art piece above the bed.

Photos by George Barberis.

An Abandoned Lisbon Attic Becomes Airy Apartment With Hidden Kitchen

The 645-square-foot MARVILA ATTIC did not begin like this. Prior to KEMA studio renovating the space, it was an attic in disrepair in an old industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal. Finally, the neighborhood is undergoing a revitalization and this project is a part of it. KEMA studio transformed the unlivable attic into a bright and airy apartment with views of the nearby Tagus River.

The renovation required a brand new roof and interior structure, leaving behind the only salvageable components, the floor structure and gable walls. A full bathroom and private entry were added to round out the space’s function.

To maximize the natural light and airiness of the new design, the private areas are contained in a separate volume, leaving the public space open.

A separate volume in the living area houses storage, an embedded sofa, and the kitchen behind fluted wood panels. That leaves the remaining space as open and minimal as possible.

Four new skylights and two dormer windows are added to fill the space with daylight.

There’s even hidden storage in the wall by the entry stairs, perfect for jackets and shoes.

A window above the bedroom volume and a mirror on the back wall keeps the stairs well-lit.

Overall, the minimalist design comprises natural tones and sustainable + eco-friendly materials, like fiber cement panels, colored wood fiber panels, plywood, metal, brick tiles, and wooden floor.

Before:

Photos by Alexander Bogorodskiy and Eliza Borkowska – KEMA studio.

A Boerum Hill Residence With a New Romantic Aesthetic

This Boerum Hill project is a minimal residence located in Brooklyn, New York, designed by Bespoke Only. The designers, Melissa Lee and Erika Chou, drew inspiration from the Norwegian and English countryside, embodying the “new romantic” aesthetic for which the firm has become known.

To bring the design to life, the duo introduced a range of background details that honor the dwelling’s historic roots while also functioning seamlessly within the modern setting. The project successfully melds the past and present, creating a living space that is both stylish and comfortable.

In the kitchen, a hunter green glass cabinet, which was salvaged from elsewhere, showcases the owners’ impressive collection of cookbooks – adding a splash of color to the cozy space. The kitchen also features archival William Morris wallpaper and subtle color combinations that were inspired by the home’s 18th century roots, which are softly illuminated by antique opaline fixtures.

Melissa Lee explains, “The Boerum Hill project was all about bringing character and charm back to this historic townhome, a Federal style townhouse on arguably one of the most quintessential tree lined Brooklyn blocks. We wanted the home to feel lived-in, soulful and most importantly, befitting its past and present. We reintroduced a series of “background” details that define the integrity of a historic vernacular dwelling with aplomb – materials and finishes appropriate for its 18-century bones yet function fluidly in a modern day setting.”

Photos by William Jess Laird.

A Modern Netherlands Penthouse With Panoramic Views

Bureau Fraai designed this modern penthouse with panoramic views that include both the sea and city in the Netherlands. The Panorama Penthouse apartment resides in an old office building that was transformed into a high-end residential building. The design plan required come creative thinking as they wanted to preserve the 180-degree views from all spaces. To make that happen, they designed free-standing oak structures to create an open layout. The four floating volumes disguise an office, walk-in closet, primary bathroom, and sauna. By being positioned as they are, they create privacy for both the primary and guest bedrooms, while still remaining open to the views.

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the outstanding views no matter where one stands.

The living room rests on an elevated wooden platform framed by an outer bookcase. The sectional sofa is positioned toward the windows where one can gaze at the city’s sights.

The overall apartment’s design leans towards minimalism with a white and light grey color palette. The wooden platform and volumes, along with the plants resting atop the structures, warm the space up.

Both the office and sauna volumes have windows that allow natural light into the closed spaces.

A media and lounge room bisects the lower level terraces but has sliding glass doors on both sides that open it up to the outdoors.

Sliding steel and glass doors close between the volumes to give the primary bedroom privacy. The walk-in closet is directly behind the bed, with the bathroom on the left and office on the right.

Just off the guest bedroom is the sauna which features windows on one side facing the perimeter windows so one can enjoy the views while in there.

Photos by Flare Department.