Designed by Startup Architettura, this Ligurian apartment resembles an art gallery that you can live in

In the center of Alassio, on the western Ligurian Riviera, Startup Architettura renovated a historic residential space with a discreet yet engaging interior design project, bringing unexpected dynamism to prestigious interiors characterized by a rigid layout. The project is characterised by a "museum-like" conception of space, preserving the precious original structure as a neutral exhibition backdrop and introducing sculptural furnishing elements into the centre of the rooms, such as display cases containing domestic functions and rituals.

At the entrance, a massive wall unit in chiselled wood, which houses a small wine cellar and a bar area (for welcoming guests?), stands in the centre of the large living room covered by a "padiglione"vaulted ceiling and, moving on a track, moves through the space according to the needs of the owners. From here, two mirrored doors that dematerialise the access points and theatrically multiply the views lead to the sleeping area where, in the bedroom, an unusual lacquered wooden “box” bursts into the room and encloses a wardrobe and bedding.

A gallery bordered by structural partitions leads to the highlight of the flat: the kitchen with adjoining dining area that extends outside onto a terrace. At the centre of the space covered by a barrel vault, the sculptural monolith of the kitchen block with its essential lines and wood and steel finishes forms the convivial heart of the home. It is a concise lexicon of a few materials and an immaculate palette of tones. The icy whiteness of the plastered walls and white lacquered wooden furnishings is warmed by natural oak wood furniture inserts, coverings and flooring.