A three-sided fireplace as focal point of the home

The starting point for this home renovation project in the town of Orzinuovi in the province of Brescia was an apartment with a long list of flaws, all of which had become so problematical for the owners that they had decided to sell the property. But as a last resort they contacted architect Andrea Benedetti, an expert in radical renovation projects who had converted a former family-owned bakery into the modern architectural studio where he now works, Panificio Coworking Lab. The renovation project devised by the practice transformed the small, 63 square metre apartment into a home with a strong sense of balance and harmony. It has a rectangular floor plan and large open spaces, including a new living room with a fireplace that serves to connect the dining and relaxation areas, as well as a new sleeping area with ample storage space. « My client said to me: ‘Andrea, either we completely transform this apartment or I’m going to sell it’, » explained the architect. « From these words I realised we had the opportunity to do something really interesting and worthwhile. The apartment had numerous flaws, including a cramped living area, no dining room, a large but poorly laid out kitchen, and a bathroom with a basic bathtub (the client would have preferred a spacious and comfortable shower). So I radically reorganised the layout, replaced the corridor and dining area with a kitchen and converted what was previously the kitchen into a walk-in closet connected to the bedroom. And by removing a bedroom which was surplus to the client’s requirements, we were able to create a large living room with a dining area. » The main goals were to make the spaces more functional and usable (complete with a breakfast area next to the kitchen, a small laundry room on the same floor and a comfortably sized shower), to increase the surface area of the living space (by eliminating one of the two bedrooms, as the client had requested) and to install a three-sided fireplace that would serve as the focal point of the living area. « The client has a strong personality, and this is reflected in the choice of materials, colours and textures. We exploited contrasts and added a few splashes of colour, » continued the architect. « The biggest challenge we faced was the installation of the fireplace, particularly transporting it to the second floor and running the air supply pipe and ductwork into the attic. » Tiles from the Blustyle line from Cotto d’Este were used for the entire floor of the apartment, including the flush mounted shower tray assembled from tiles and tile-clad drainage channels. The choice of Country collection floor tiles in Aspen and Creek versions and a 20×120 cm size for the entire apartment proved to be a highly creative solution and determined the overall style and personality of the home.