2024
Rome, Italy
Fields of intervention: Façades and interior design
Just a short walk from Piazza del Popolo in the very heart of Rome and flanked by the river Tiber and Villa Borghese, this neo-renaissance building dating from the 1920s formed the subject of this intervention.
The project involved the renovation of the exterior and the interior with the intention of it becoming the new Executive Headquarters of Banca Ifis.
The studio was selected after winning a competition organized by the client and which regarded the preliminary concept.
A WORKPLACE SHAPED BY COMFORT AND WARMTH
The headquarters have been conceived not simply as a workplace, but also as a welcoming and almost domestic space where multifunctional lounge areas have been inserted, in addition to offices, to include a light-filled orangery, a professional kitchen, a room for convivial dining and an area for relaxation on the top floor terrace.
The conservative restoration of the exteriors concentrated on tidying the facades and substituting the windows, which become large casings that frame the beauty of the surrounding city. Spaces and details discovered during the restoration process also guided the design choices, taking up and emphasizing some of the original characteristics of the building, such as the vaulted ceiling in the reception area.
EXQUISITE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND MATERIALS
The sculptural, wood clad staircase leading to the upper floors is designed like a ribbon that winds upwards,
while the wall lights realized in collaboration with Venini reproduce a design found in the historical archive
that was reinterpreted and reproportioned by Lissoni.
Finishes of the highest quality were chosen, including marble for the walls as well as venetian terrazzo
and polished wood parquet for the floors. Refined woodworking features strongly, as in the flooring
and the many walls clad in elegant boiserie of classic inspiration reinterpreted in a contemporary key.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN ART, DESIGN AND HERITAGE
The furnishings are a blend of contemporary design and iconic vintage, while elegantly styled
pieces and ethnic rugs bring together Europe and the East.
Much of the space is given over to art: specific settings, niches and structures were designed
ad hoc from the outset with the aim of displaying works from the bank’s private collection.
Everything was integrated with a custom-made building automation system and advanced technology
in order to obtain both LEED and WELL certification.
CREATION OF DIRECTIONAL AND INFORMATION SIGNS
The wayfinding system was conceived as a subtle yet essential layer within the architectural narrative,
designed to accompany visitors and employees as they move through the interior and the exterior
of the building, without compromising the visual integrity of the spaces.
With its discreet and elegant presence, the signage adopts a language of minimalism, echoing the materials
and tones already present and reinforcing the architecture. Each space within the building serves a distinct function,
and so clarity of orientation and communication is paramount. The system responds to the client's needs,
delivering mandatory information, emergency directions and spatial identification with quiet authority.
The process was underpinned by in-depth research and a discerning dialogue with the architectural context,
ensuring that each element, from floor-level indications to wall plaques detailing the art on display, room functions
and bank regulations, contributes to the overall harmony of the environment.
Web Design / Tommaso Cavallini; Text / Alice Caudera, Laura Cucchi, Donatella Brun; Translation / Richard Peace; Content management / Giorgia Maretta, Laura Presti, Constanza Coscia; Web development / Friweb.
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