The culture of renovation

The players: 1) A 1970s house set amongst the greenery of Marina Velca, a well-served area near Tarquinia, bordered by the Voltunna sea on one side and the golf course and woods of Pian di Spille on the other. 2) A couple from Rome who wanted to transform the house into their holiday retreat, with one permanent fixture: their cherished Lego collections, the colourful Danish bricks that have brought joy to both children and adults since the late 1950s. 3) Rome-based architect Paolo Brunelli, who after studying at Lisbon University drew inspiration from renowned Portuguese masters such as Álvaro Siza and the brothers Francisco and Manuel Aires Mateus. He places listening to the client, their needs and dreams at the core of his projects. 4) Fioranese, a company specializing in porcelain stoneware and its unique “Kintsugi” tiles with a strongly Japanese flavour. These tiles are produced using a new patented digital printing technology that creates a subtle, visually perceptible relief, while remaining undetectable to the touch when walked on.

The story. As always, the renovation project combined technical aspects with ongoing discussions to identify the specific element that would give the design a personalised touch. In this case, the two-storey house features a spacious ground floor with a large living area showcasing the Lego collection and a dedicated table, along with four rooms for friends and family. The upper floor is dedicated to video games and includes an office, the hosts’ private area and the son’s bedroom.

“We began with the walls, but were unconvinced by the paint colours and wallpaper samples,” says architect Brunelli. “We found the solution in the new Fioranese catalogue, which immediately made us shift our focus to the floor. The ceramic tiles from the Kintsugi series convinced everyone — it’s an image you don’t forget.” A major innovation at the time, the collection is rich in cultural references and meanings that, rather than overwhelming the space, make it vibrant, cheerful and bright. Its pattern, featuring colourful inserts in simple, soothing designs, along with the lightly embossed metal wire, evokes the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi. This technique, which uses gold to mend broken objects, enhances their beauty and value by celebrating imperfections.

“This project was a turning point for me. It confirmed the validity of my approach, which emphasises both professionalism and the importance of human relationships,” says Brunelli. “The friendship and respect that we established with the clients encouraged me to become the sole partner of Duolab, the firm I originally founded with a friend. Today, the firm consists of myself and my partner, Elisa Di Florido. We work from home – it’s more relaxed, we avoid unnecessary travel, and we feel freer. We work a lot, but it doesn’t feel burdensome.”