tissellistudioarchitetti Renovates Historic Penthouse With Sleek Golden Staircase
Following the restoration guidelines of the Italian locality, tissellistudioarchitetti preserves original aspects of the Forlì apartment.
Italian firm tissellistudioarchitetti has unveiled a unique modern restoration of a historic penthouse in Forlì, Italy, made under the strict guidelines of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape. While giving the apartment an airy, minimal atmosphere, historic structural details and a completely reimagined staircase imbue the space with a deep sense of character.
The studio appropriately calls the golden staircase the “protagonist” of the design, with its structure occupying a central point in the main living space and giving the room’s dominantly white surfaces a reflective amber glow. The railing, which is clad in large colored mirrors, adds a unique sculptural element without breaking the unit’s historical integrity.
Above the stairs, a diagonal ceiling covered in slats of naturally weathered wood provides a strong contrast to the spotless mirrors and titanium white walls. Furthermore, even large beams that have been painted white show visible cracks and natural irregularities, emphasizing the lived character of the unit.
In the kitchen, a blanket of brushed chrome surfaces forms a waterfall effect from cabinets, countertops and up the adjacent wall. The choice of materials is another satisfying contrast when comparing the clear golden surfaces of the staircase to the blurred silver reflection of the kitchen surfaces.
Elsewhere, the bathroom breaks from the harsh corners and straight planes with a circular mirror and a sink counter that hugs the curve of the torso when standing in front of it. With the skylight filling the shower with sunrays and the mirror emitting a soft glow, a glass wall in the bathroom efficiently shares the light with the external room. Another skylight pours bright natural light over the bed, while a full wall of mirrors further disperses it across the bedroom.
See photos of the renovation in the gallery above and follow tissellistudioarchitetti on Instagram to stay in the loop on their latest work.
