House in the historic center of Bagnoregio (VT) | Francesca Giosi

The property, located in the ancient village of Bagnoregio (VT), has been in a state of abandon and degradation for years.
Although it radiated its charm from all the small spaces that develop from staggered floors and wooden ceilings, the idea of restoring all living conditions, functionality and decorations, presented itself as a complex challenge.
It was not difficult, however, to catch a glimpse of its potential and imagine a rebirth in a more contemporary way.

The building occupies the first, second, and third floor of a historic building with the main entrance on a narrow and characteristic alley. The secondary entrance is on a slightly wider road that crosses the village.
It has an irregular plan that develops lengthwise, with the two short sides on the street façades. A small courtyard, around which some rooms are arranged, opens on one of the long sides allowing an intimate and cosy light to filter.

The renovation took place in two phases; during the first phase the structural interventions were carried out: the roof replacement, the consolidation of existing floors and the renovation of heating, water, and power systems.

The intent was not to transform the internal distribution too much, both to preserve the original typological characteristics and to avoid excessive stress on the structure. Very few partitions have been demolished: one between the two rooms on the first floor in order to obtain a large dining area with an open kitchen, and another in the hallway leading to the second floor, to give character and life to a space that would otherwise remain dark, with mere function of passage. There is now a reading area that gains light from the small cloister. The second and third floor, which house the bedrooms, have preserved the original distribution layout.

The second phase was dedicated to finishing touches and furnishings, trying to make traditional and original elements dialogue with the most contemporary ones.
70% of the roof structure in chestnut glulam beams consists of   traditional clay tiles recovered from the existing roof that give the rooms a timeless character.

An idea was to diversify servant spaces from served ones, using two different materials: grey micro-cement for the first ones (stairs, hallways, corridors, bathrooms and storage room), oak parquet for the second ones (dining and kitchen area, living room and bedrooms).

The grey micro cement offers a contemporary atmosphere in contrast with the old or more rustic elements. The oak parquet makes the most lived rooms warmer; the zelliges light shades give a rustic but minimalist look to the bathrooms and kitchen.
The choice of white for the colour of walls and ceilings was almost mandatory, considering that some windows are very small and that the narrow alley is not always bright enough during the day.

The two great hallways have been valorised and reconfigured thanks to custom-made furniture that allows to live these spaces in several ways, turning them into pass-through rooms (relax area, reading area, play area with swing).

The strongly distinctive element is the wooden bookshelf/parapet that starts from the first floor and goes up to the roof, crossing the entire house, emphasizing its verticality as well as the space’s.
The constant presence of birch plywood custom-made furniture personalizes and makes every room of the house unique.

Another theme has been the recovery of existing elements. What had an aesthetic value and was in good conditions was reused: the traditional roof tiles, some wooden lintels cleared from plaster that now underline doors and windows, and some pieces of furniture found inside that have been restored.