ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Studio CHP in Torino, Italy by PAT. architetti associatiJuly 24th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: PAT. architetti associati The office is located at the piano nobile of a XIX century building on Piazza Solferino, one of Torino’s main squares. Formerly occupied by an insurance firm, the space has grand rooms still adorned by the original old wooden floors and decorated vaults.
Distribution is from a central corridor, which we found in bad conditions and thoughtlessly organized: a dilapidated mineral fiber tiles suspended ceiling, walls altered, incongruous columns. This long hallway a was non defined space lacking relation with the surrounding environment, creating a disturbing presence. The brief from the client required:
The design thrives on a strong contrast in color, style and perception between the hallway and the work spaces. The hallway is a monochrome, cocoon-like environment, painted in a dark hue of blue (Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue) conveying a visual flattening. The perception of the anomalies surfacing from the walls is nullified by a system of mdf panels. A new take on the XIX century wooden panelings, the painted mdf panels hanged on the walls at different angles carry a strong sense of fluidity to the space. The charcoal grey carpet flooring, and soft, warm, indirect lighting all contribute in creating a metaphysical environment. The only license to the modulation of the space is through the use of tiny recessed spotlights (Nulla by Davide Groppy), which emphasize each door, generating gentle islands of light. Opening the doors, one has the striking perception of entering another dimension. Office rooms are set in “total white” and inundated by natural light, contrasting with the dark monotone of the hallway. The grand rooms have been brought back to their former glory, restoring the old wooden floors and painting the walls in very opaque gypsum white, enhancing the existing stucco decorations through the chiaroscuro effect generated by the lights. Contact PAT. architetti associati
Category: Offices |