Balance Architettura redesign the interior of a single-family residential building which is a preserved and bound property of the italian typology called “dei Ferrovieri”. The main objective of the design is the synthesis of the traditional and modern elements of the space.

-text by the architects 

The presented project is the result of a refurbishment of a single-family residential building in a residential area of the city center of Cuneo (North of Italy).

The house is a mansion of the italian typology called “dei Ferrovieri”, which starting from 1908, the State Railways Social Security, began to populate Italy and the areas adjacent to the historical centers through this building campaign, Then, subsequently, all these buldings have been incorporated in the city tissue.

The building in question is from 1921, it is a preserved and bound property by the Committee of Architectural Heritage which protects its facades and external appearance.

It is therefore to be considered an interior design intervention.

The first choice we took, and wanted to remain adherent from the beginning, was the maintenance of the roof structure. It was an essential condition for us. We wanted to keep the internal spirit of the time, preserving the authentic wooden beams. Their appearance is an essential part of the design spaces, and their artisanal conformation would be hard to be replicated with new manifactured beams.

The contemporary aspect is given by the very dark coloring which gives a personal environment and generates an alteration of the habitual perception of the ceiling.

We were also interested in the appearance of the un-finished finishings. For two reasons, the first is to maintain the historic memory of the house, the second reason is because we believe the un-finished details transfer an authentic, true and more hospitable feel.

There are portions of the existing wall which are on sight, portions with even the original 1920s wallpaper, portions of wall with vintage bricks only painted with white grout.

The staircase is a sheet metal element micro-perforated, it is an object that challenges the gravity, which works on transparency.

It stands up thanks to its shape and its material’s properties, it only has lateral support and therefore it is very solid. Parallel to the structural aspects there are furniture and outfitting, which express our way of designing. The objects, designed by us, merge with the rest of the building.

The kitchen, the bathrooms, some storages walls are in birch and they are in harmony with the materials used for other portions of the house.

Facts & Credits

Project title  Luzzatti House
Project type  Interiors
Architects/Design  Balance Architettura
Location  Cuneo, Italia
Area  355 m²
Year  2021
Photography  Beppe Giardino


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