In the heart of Rome’s Trastevere district, a forgotten 19th-century Liberty-style villino has been meticulously restored and reimagined by STUDIOTAMAT, transforming it into a refined urban retreat. Nestled in a courtyard along Viale di Trastevere, this compact 80-square-meter home once served as a caretaker’s residence or a neighborhood doctor’s office, depending on local lore. Today, it stands as a testament to sensitive architectural intervention, where history and modernity intertwine.
The project began with a careful preservation of original elements, including the delicate cathedral glass veranda in soft greens, pinks, and yellows. STUDIOTAMAT rebuilt the frame in steel and solar-control glass, removing a dividing French door to seamlessly merge the veranda with the interior. This bold yet respectful approach floods the living space with natural light, its hues shifting subtly throughout the day.
Inside, the architects tackled the fragmented layout by relocating the kitchenette and introducing a striking alternating-tread staircase in chestnut wood. The first step, clad in Verde Alpi marble, doubles as the base for a custom bookshelf, while a mirrored storage unit conceals laundry and amplifies the sense of space. The living area gains depth from a soaring double-height window, framing views of surrounding gardens and complemented by Bruno Munari’s iconic Falkland pendant lamps.
A deep blue volume anchors the ground floor, organizing services like the fridge, pantry, and powder room. This bold chromatic choice continues upward, defining the main bathroom on the top floor, where Nouveau furnishings by Ex.t meet Patricia Urquiola’s textured Mater tiles. Glass floor panels and mirrored surfaces create visual connections between levels, enhancing the home’s spatial dynamism.
The mezzanine features Foret parquet by Oscar Ono Paris, its oak slats echoing the pebble streets of 19th-century Paris and ancient Rome. A custom bed with a gradient finish mirrors the kitchen’s palette, ensuring visual continuity across floors. The raw iron spiral staircase with cherry wood treads serves as a sculptural centerpiece, leading to a studio space bathed in light.
Outside, the lush green terrace blends seamlessly with its surroundings, its compacted stone paving reflecting the villa’s earthy palette. “The first step was subtraction—to give breathing room to these compact floors,” says Matteo Soddu, Co-Founder of STUDIOTAMAT. “We preserved the essential structure but played with pure volumes, reflected surfaces, and a strong material thread.”
This project captures the quiet charm of Trastevere, where modest façades often conceal unexpected treasures. By merging memory with material and history with contemporary sensibility, STUDIOTAMAT has crafted a deeply rooted yet strikingly modern urban refuge.