It is a building in the Baroque center of Catania, redesigned as hotel which tells Sicily cinematographically. The original core, dating back to the ‘500, was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake afterwards it was subjected to several changes, the last one date back to the post war period, has changed the intended use until the final one known as hotel. This has been possible to read through the works of restructuring that showed the various layers. The works have tried to bring back to life the original structure while maintaining or reviving the system of vertical connections. The concept wants to communicate an image of Sicily especially told through the suggestions from cinema. To make it possible, representative icons have been used and even decorative apparatus, the quotes, the lighting design, using a contemporary architectural language dedicating to each space a cinematographic work. The work has required a careful research of the significant elements of the “story” told, without neglecting to re-use some original elements of the building, reinventing use and function. Each room is characterized by objects, shapes and colors taken from the movie to which is dedicated in order to allow the customer to soak into the atmosphere that we want to tell. Particular attention was dedicated to the relationship between the plant system and the environments, aiming to its complete integration, reaching almost the invisibility. The charm of the interior benefits of the “popular” atmosphere that represents an extraordinary urban landscape. Eleven Rooms were obtained, some of which are configured as suites, dedicated to a particular director and a small Spa.
Working with the existing, an integration of the old barn, constructing landscape. Creating links between old and new, connection spaces and unifying elements. Landscape as main topic becomes part of achitecture and viceversa. Also here, materials as linking elements between old and new, indoors and outdoors.
The project involved the renovation of an 80s’ apartment at the edge of the historical centre of Padua.
The interior space has been extensively re-conceived through essential design interventions and the employment of minimal materials. This was accomplished by retaining fragments of the original structure with the addition of contemporary elements.
In the heart of the historic center of a small Italian town (Benevento), within the ancient walls of the Longobards, this small vegetarian restaurant of 90 sqm has been created.
This house stands isolated in Favara, not far from Agrigento, looking out onto the shiny Mediterranean in the distance and with the famous Valley of the Temples archeological park not far off.
From 1 room of 48 sqm to 4 rooms of 16 sqm: increase of surfaces, multiplication of space. Two overturned and turned 90 ° turnstiles – in birch plywood panels – operate this magic, also providing the “disappearance” of the metal loft, heavy burden of the previous real estate RE-structuring, and returning “air” to the compartment. The space is so circular: from the living room, to the kitchen, to the study, to the upper bedroom: that from the living room, on the study, connected to the kitchen by a yellow monochrome staircase “dug out” in the birch portals; as well as the front desk counter.
The project is located within the headquarter of Eurac Research Center on Druso Avenue in Bozen, known as “ex-GIL”. The structure was designed by architects Mansutti and Miozzo, and was constructed in the years 1934 to 1936 in order to accommodate youth females enrolled in GIL (Gioventù Italiana del Littorio). Following the war, the building, renamed “Ex-GIL”, was used for different purposes, from supermarket to pornographic cinema, and was abandoned over time to a slow degradation. In 1995 an international architectural competition for the transformation of the ensemble into the new headquarters for Eurac Research was announced. The jury decided unanimously for the design of Graz-based architect Klaus Kada, who integrated the building which is under the protection of cultural assets with modern rational and transparent glass intersections.
The intervention realized in the Archaeological Park of Siponto rebuilds and reinterprets the three-dimensionality of the ancient Early Christian basilica located close to the existing Romanesque church, which was erected 600 years later.