A loft with a view

Combining the industrial style typical of American lofts with the relaxed atmosphere of holiday homes, the architects from Moreno Farina Studio of Grottammare (AP) carried out an understated but meticulously-planned interior design project to transform a small newly-built apartment into an informal space dedicated to relaxation. The apartment, a loft in a newly-built block of seaside holiday homes, is located in the coastal village of Tortoreto Lido on the main Adriatica road in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo. « We decided right away to partly reorganise the spaces, » explain architects Moreno Farina and Teresa Di Lorenzo. « To do this, we added wooden trusses with a purely aesthetic rather than loadbearing function [the floor is made of traditional brick and masonry, Editor] and helped our clients choose the finishings and furnishings. Our work was guided by our clients’ desire for an interior with a meticulously designed yet at the same time fresh and informal atmosphere that would reflect the proximity of the sea. Light is enhanced through the use of natural material textures and the choice of furnishings with a strong personality. »
To further accentuate this playful beach-holiday atmosphere, the walls were covered with facing brick and then painted white, a solution that is much in vogue in New York lofts. As an unexpected but appealing decorative element standing out amongst these pure white vertical partitions, the kitchenette wall is entirely clad with hand-decorated multicoloured Vietri majolica tiles (Melange ‘900 line from Francesco De Maio), which are also used in the space between the base and wall units. These cheerful, brightly-coloured tiles contrast effectively with the industrial look of the professional mixer tap chosen for the sink. The furnishings are likewise informal, including the high table used as a snack counter together with two transparent plastic stools, the petroleum blue quilted fabric sofas, the natural square wood table with chairs of various shapes and colours, and the Nordic style grey silicone pendant lamp (Unfold by Form Us With Love for Muuto). « This carefully chosen selection of furniture and accessories also includes a number of historic items of Italian design, » concluded the architects. Examples include the Parentesi suspension lamp, designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manzù in 1971 for Flos, and the more recent Louis Ghost chair designed by Philippe Starck in 2002 for Kartell. The atmosphere is completed by the full-height bleached wood panelling decorated with prints and maritime-themed ornaments on wooden shelves.