Formal elegance

Location: Rome
Area: 150 Smq
Client: Asset Management Company
Project time: 2018

Where necessary, strong architectural contrasts can coexist within the same project. For these offices, we envisioned an entrance hall featuring elegant, soft and high-quality materials and colours; stairwells defined by natural tones and finishes; and, finally, the upper floors, where the offices are characterised by vibrant, dynamic and lively colour schemes. Each part of the building has its own identity, giving character to the spaces and offering an element of surprise to every user.

The owners of the property in Rome requested the redevelopment of several areas of the building to make them more appealing for leasing. We therefore designed contemporary offices using refined materials and modern stylistic elements. In approaching the refurbishment of both the hall and the offices, we began by addressing the aesthetic and functional obsolescence of the existing components.

Before the project, the hall consisted of confined spaces that were poorly utilised by both visitors and staff. Our proposal was to make the reception area more functional by positioning it directly opposite the main entrance—making it more prominent—and enlarging it. Behind the reception desk, through the removal of walls, we created two distinct spaces: a waiting area for clients and a meeting room available to all tenants of the building.

The materials guiding the project’s characterisation were golden bronze and wood—warm, welcoming materials capable of bringing elegance to the environment. We chose to retain the existing flooring throughout the common areas, with the exception of the bathrooms, meeting room and waiting area. To lighten the atmosphere enriched by the golden bronze, we clad the lift core walls, positioned opposite the reception, with a custom-designed wallpaper incorporating the interior signage.

The waiting area features a wall covering extending into a suspended ceiling composed of wooden slats, within which the lighting system is integrated. The flooring, by contrast, was redesigned using large-format porcelain tiles with a corten-steel effect.

The meeting room—fully visible and separated from the waiting area by glazed partitions—is dominated by a green wall that forms the backdrop for the entire ground-floor design.

As for the projects on the first and eighth floors, both follow the same conceptual approach but adapt to different forms and spatial layouts: at the entrance of each floor, a desk serves as an information point and waiting area. From here, various spaces develop: offices of different sizes, relaxation areas featuring colourful and design-oriented elements to create a sense of calm and comfort, and meeting rooms. To further personalise the spaces, coloured flooring (in shades of blue or green) was introduced to differentiate the areas, along with vegetated walls to provide freshness and a sense of well-being.