A refurbished apartment

The location of this renovation project is an anonymous, poorly designed apartment with a neglected terrace on the top floor of a 1960s building devoid of architectural merit.
“Renovating this apartment was no easy task,” explains architect Marco Piovini, who was commissioned to redesign the interiors. “But every home has something special, and in this case it is the splendid view of the sea and the port.”
Located in Voltri in the western suburbs of Genoa, the apartment building stands high above all the surrounding houses. “The terrace offers an unobstructed view all the way to the horizon, without any visual barriers that might block the view or prevent light from entering. This is the aspect I chose to focus on,” explains the architect.
The first step was to redesign and expand the floor plan by restoring the terrace to its role as a natural extension of the interior. Eliminating as far as possible the corridors and hallways has given the apartment a more functional and spacious layout. The spaces are divided up into clearly defined and adequately equipped zones: day, night, terrace and services. A sense of lightness is evident throughout the project.
The only barrier between the living room and the terrace is a transparent glass window with sliding panels that retract into the wall, blurring the distinction between interior and exterior. The same solution was chosen to separate the kitchen functionally if not visually, while the dining room and living room merge together seamlessly.
The sleeping area is more intimate but maintains a rational layout. The master bedroom has its own bathroom and a his-and-hers double walk-in wardrobe. Another bedroom, an office and a bathroom with laundry room complete the private area of the house.
But it is the terrace that really steals the show. Extending over a space of 100 square metres, it is almost equal in size to the entire floor area of the house, but above all it serves as an extraordinary roof garden that can be enjoyed for most of the year thanks to the mild climate typical of the Liguria coast. Solarium areas alternate with lounges, while a large table is perfect for dining while enjoying the sea view. Last but not least, there is a small open-air kitchen area to simplify food preparation and enhance the outdoor living experience, just as in a real garden.
The interiors adopt neutral, restful colour tones for the walls, curtains, floors (porcelain tiles from the I Cocci collection from Ceramica Fioranese) and even the radiators, but without sacrificing a decorative touch that gives the rooms their own personality.
Inspired by colours and patterns typical of the 1960s, the project features ceramic carpets and inserts in certain areas of the house. The same I Cocci collection but in a terrazzo-inspired Deco version was chosen for the conversation and dining areas, the areas adjacent to the doors and even for the splashback in the kitchen.
Porcelain tiles are also used in the bathrooms, which maintain the neutral colour scheme of the living room. The choice here fell on Coem’s Reverso travertine effect and Sequoie veined stone collections, which bring a touch of character and dynamism to these spaces.
The contemporary furnishings chosen for the apartment create a sensation of lightness alongside custom solutions (the TV cabinet and the office furniture) and come in colours that echo those of the doors and walls.
The only accent colour is the vivid blue of the sofas, clearly inspired by the sea which is visible from all the windows.