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.

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 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.