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Rome Luxury Rental Apartments by THDP: when design speaks a “microlocal language”

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In recent years Rome has been at the center of a series of transformations that have broadened the perspective on the city, from an open-air museum steeped in history to an international capital. If the antique component remains a specific feature of the city, today the advent of contemporary artists, fashion Maison, new exhibitions and consequent architectural restructuring has brought a wave of modernity and internationality in the Eternal City. In this context, we find the project of the twenty-seven luxury short rental apartments designed by the Italian-British studio THDP. With a view to further projecting the Italian capital in the field of internationality, THDP has thought of a haven of serenity to offer to curious visitors, where to stop between one exploration and another. The project is divided into three different areas that, while sharing a common history, are characterized by a specific story and identity. These are Trastevere, the emblem of the youngest Rome – in Italian, “La Roma Giovane” – the area of the Colosseum, symbol of the monumental Rome – “La Roma Antica” - and the most elegant city sector, around which gather antique palaces, art galleries and places of opulence – “La Roma Elegante”.

Luxury Rental Apartments, Trastevere, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Trastevere, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Trastevere, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Trastevere, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco

The first context is that of nightlife, fashionable restaurants, theatres, street artists and bridges connecting the old and the new. The identity of Trastevere, which corresponds to that typical of the rione – a term that designates the subdivisions of the historic center of Rome – can be found in the apartments that THDP has designed for this area. The colours and materials are warm, lively and welcoming. The hybridization between past and present is found in the richness of the materials and in the eclecticism of their assortment. Each of the apartments consists of three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open plan lounge, a dining room and a kitchen with a spacious entrance. Maintaining the existing flooring as much as possible is a choice of eco-sustainability that repeats again the idea of finding a link between two different timelines. The living area is defined by a character of playfulness, given by the wall covering inset into accent wall moldings, the modern design furniture and the colorful wallpapers. The shape of the small-scale arch is repeated as the leitmotif in all the apartments based on the concept of “La Roma Giovane”. It can be found in the custom headboards in faux leather, in the mouldings of the wardrobe and in the fixed shower screen.

In the area that has its center in the Colosseum we find inserts of history but also contemporary exhibitions, theatrical spaces and streets that from ancient Rome meander through the cosmopolitan district of the Esquiline. The choice of black and white as the main colors of the apartments here restores the ancient decorations of the surrounding monuments. It is a game of contrasts that highlights the volumes and historical character of the apartments. The entire building rests on the ancient remains of the prisons previously connected to the Colosseum. The individual apartments consist of a bedroom, a bathroom, an open plan living room, a dining and kitchen area and a large entrance hall. The black and white colour scheme is complemented by brown, dusty pink and green accents in the living area, thus adding a touch of colour to the geometries that characterize the space. Finally, particular attention was also paid to the corridor and entrance area, where we find moldings, neutral colors, wallpaper with architectural designs and a number of works of art.

Luxury Rental Apartments, Colosseo, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Colosseo, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Colosseo, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Colosseo, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco

Home to noble palaces and beautiful architectural masterpieces, including Chiesa Nuova on the homonymous square and the Oratory of the Filippini – a work by Borromini – the noble district of Rome is located between the historic center and the new residential districts beyond the Tiber. Located amongst decorated inner courtyards, palaces and monumental churches, the condominiums that THDP has renovated in this area boast large terraces from which to enjoy a 360º perspective of the city. The use of dramatic colors, particularly precious materials and a low maintained brightness create an atmosphere typical of an old noble palace. The apartments are structured into three bedrooms, two bathrooms – one of which is en suite – a large living and dining area and a separate kitchen. The use of materials such as marble and brass, high-end finishes, bespoke light fittings by THDP and the wall covering contribute to the final wow effect. The selection of furniture, classic and contemporary at the same time, together with the bold selection of 3D feature tiles, add further expressiveness to the design. Finally, the choice of warm and rich colors such as the deep blue of the walls and mostly curved shapes gives an enveloping feeling of home.

Luxury Rental Apartments, Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Rome, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco
Luxury Rental Apartments, Rome, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Paolo Fusco

In the project of THDP the local identity also passes through the selection of works and objects by creative Romans from Via dei Banchi Vecchi. Among these, the local artisan atelier Il Paralume took care of the personalized lampshades, while the frames of the paintings were made by Patrizio Agostinelli, an established craftsman who has been working in his workshop in Via Bartolomeo for over seventy years. Bearers of the city’s artistic tradition, the selected artists have focused on faces and landscapes of Roman classicism, to which the whole project looks as an inexhaustible source of inspiration.

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