set architects

The apartment was designed for a young, creative couple seeking a home with a terrace for entertaining guests and enjoying Rome’s mild climate. Located in the Nomentano district, known for its early 20th-century urban fabric, the flat sits atop a corner building whose internal geometry strongly influenced the project.

The renovation began with a careful study of the original layout, removing outdated additions and reinterpreting historical elements to suit modern living. The new floor plan emphasises spatial fluidity and a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces.

At the heart of the home is a glazed veranda housing the living room, slightly elevated and directly connected to the dining area. A fireplace serves as a central gathering point. A new steel-framed window enhances the relationship between indoors and out, linking the living room directly to the terrace.

The kitchen, while a separate room, remains closely connected to the living area via large bespoke sliding doors. Custom-designed furnishings throughout the apartment, such as a natural iron bookcase inspired by Franco Albini’s 1950s designs, reinforce the tailored approach.

Material selection was approached with great care, favouring local resources like basalt and travertine, which were used for bespoke elements, including bathroom basins and the fireplace base. Walls are finished in pebble-grey marmorino, a natural lime-based plaster that lends subtle texture.

Oak wood, treated with natural drying oils to achieve a deep tone, features prominently in flooring and doors. A handcrafted “cutting edge” surface treatment was applied to enhance its organic character, making wood the defining material of the entire project.