The property’s age was not the only challenge; an awkward floorplan required a reconfiguration to meet the demands of modern living, without significantly diluting or effacing the property’s historic essence. In the apartment’s main living space – a large, vaulted volume entirely covered in frescoes – the greatest challenge was addressed by introducing a free-standing cubic volume in the room’s centre to house the lavatory. This structure allows the walls and ceiling to remain visible while conceptually dividing the space into a lounge, kitchen, and dining area.

In the private quarters, which occupy an elongated space with windows along just the one side, the issue of a dark corridor was resolved by introducing translucent partitions to separate it from the adjoining bedroom and bathroom, while the narrow entrance hallway now serves a dual function as a study and wardrobe.

The apartment’s streamlined layout, complemented by a muted palette of white and light-toned wood along with sparse, contemporary minimalist furnishings, allows the weathered frescoes to take centre stage. Occasional pops of colour, such as a red bench and a teal-blue kitchen counter in the living area and an ocean-blue wardrobe in the master bedroom, subtly animate the interiors, further underscoring the project’s interplay between past and present.