A Rome bathroom with a retro feel

Rome’s Trieste neighbourhood is an area with a rich and complex history and a variety of architectural styles which took on a decidedly residential character in the 1930s with its villas and townhouses and the emergence of the famous Coppedé district. It gained notoriety in the 1960s due to the presence of the famous Piper Club nightlife venue.
Commissioned to renovate a 180 square metre penthouse and to oversee the lighting and interior design project, architect Giovanni Callocchia opted for a style “characterised by an essential and understated contemporary design complemented by a few vintage furnishings and finishes”. In particular, the white and burgundy bathroom was designed with an intentionally minimalist retro style and features a large free-standing bathtub and glazed majolica wall tiles that bring a sense of vibrancy to the overall design.
In the “choice of ceramic tiles to be used on the bathroom floor and walls, I wanted to combine aesthetic qualities with practical characteristics while giving the room a vintage feel”, says the architect. “I opted for white and burgundy as the two key colours and experimented with various types of Tonalite products from the Ottagonetta and Diamante collections to give the room a retro allure.”
Tonalite brand products were chosen because they guarantee “high quality materials, low costs and a design in line with my project”. The result is a luminous ambience where the white of the Diamante wall tiles contrasts with the geometric pattern of small burgundy rhombuses on the floor, a colour reprised in the moulded cornice that runs around the perimeter of the wall. The oval freestanding bathtub is contemporary in design while echoing retro style models.
The Callocchia architectural practice, founded in 1973, is made up of architects Gaetano, the founder, Giovanni and Arianna, and comprises a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, interior designers, graphic designers and creatives. Based in Rome’s historic Prati neighbourhood, the practice works throughout Italy in the fields of interior design, interior renovation and architectural design, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability, energy saving, technological innovation, and building renovation and refurbishment.