The attic has a fully-windowed square layout and is located on the southern outskirts of Florence, in a complex designed by Leonardo Savioli in the 1970s. You enter a large open space comprising a kitchen, dining area, living room and a study distributed without interruption. Such continuity also extends to the exterior thanks to the continuous windows of the living room, which partly overlook the large terrace and partly face an urban park. This way, there is hardly any limit between inside and outside. The study of the horizontal surfaces of the floors and the changes of material mark the different environments and intended uses; for example, the light-blue resin floor identifies the kitchen space. In fact, it’s the details that enrich and define the space; the passages from one side to the other are remarkably fluid and informal.

All the furnishings have been conceived and made to measure to meet both the space requirements and the client’s needs. The north terrace has been redesigned by adding a “teak” wooden floor on movable platforms. The parapet has been turned into a wooden seat that extends along the entire perimeter, thus becoming a piece of furniture. Two large corten planters placed at the far ends close the bench and leave the space deliberately unoccupied and flexible for any use.

The development of the bathroom, consisting of a toilet and a space with a shower and Japanese-style tub designed and built specifically for this space, is truly special. The uniqueness of this type of tub, which is generally created on-site and has twice as much capacity as a standard bathtub, required the reinforcement of the existing floor, but this was one of the key requests of the client, who loves the Japanese culture and wanted the bathroom to be the centrepiece of the house. On the second floor (the sixth when looking at the entire building), there’s a small, square-shaped thinking corner with windows on three sides. In the beginning, it was just a tiny storage room accessible only through the shared staircase. Still, given the breathtaking view of the Fiesole hills surrounding that part of the city, it felt imperative to give new life to this abandoned space. Therefore, an internal wooden staircase was created to connect this space to the study area of ​​the open space as if it was its continuation, also highlighted by the wall-mounted bookcase that surrounds it.

Talking about dstudiod

Dstudiod is a multidisciplinary architecture firm started by architects Cristina Amenta, Simona Bruzzi and Mara Pasquini. It was founded in 2007, with offices in Florence and Bologna. The passion for interior design leads the firm to specialize in the contract and retail sectors. Projects include wellness centres, residences, hotels, but above all, trade fairs and flagship stores. The latter represents a significant segment of the firm’s work from 2007 to 2011 when it carries out Project Management activities for a well-known Arab ceramic brand, Cleopatra Ceramica. The team redesigns its corporate image with a series of flagship stores in various locations in Cairo and Alexandria, takes care of the design for national and international trade fairs, and leads its advertising department. Dstudiod is now entering its next chapter since the three founders have specialized in different sectors, although they’ve continued to collaborate. Cristina Amenta has specialized in the planning and management of cultural events and the design of urban spaces for visually impaired people. Simona Bruzzi continues working in the contract and retail sector and also collaborates with renowned manufacturers. Mara Pasquini now works in Public Relations and Publishing, always focusing on architecture and interior design