The task of this project is the requalification of a terraced house, a rather rare residential type in Roman urban context.
In particular, we have made a total reconfiguration of its internal spatiality, the design of the two opposite gardens and a deep energetic redevelopment.
STUDIO NAME: DELISABATINI architetti
AREA: ROMA
YEAR: 2020-2021
LOCATION: ROMA
CONSULTANTS: Ing. P. Forte
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: DS
The house, originally, was inside divided in many rooms that generated too tight spaces and did not have a continuous relationship with the external gardens.
Natural light barely penetrated inside the house also for large roofs and small windows.
Because of these considerations, the design has as main task the creation of new internal spatial quality and of new relationship with the gardens. In fact, the ground floor becomes an open and continuous room that visually connects the opposite gardens and new large windows replace big parts of existing masonry walls.
The focus of internal transformation is living area; the existing functions like entrance, living room and kitchen now belong to a single flowing and continuous space, but differently characterized.
From every point of this floor is possible to see the main garden with its intense light from the south. In left side, the area rises to an unusual double height that gives breath space to home interiors.
It is a rediscovered double height space, which the previous owners eliminated.
Three elements define and qualify the new home space:
The very thick and pierced wall is the only element that organizes the ground floor; it delimits zones but does not close to the view; it rises for two floors showing itself from the living room as an internal façade.
The staircase, previously embedded between walls, is now isolated and remodeled; it rises from the wooden pavement of ground floor until it becomes a solid volume.
The fireplace, with fire resting on a long concrete plate and above the white shelves of bookcase, is another element that characterizes the living room.
The improvement of energy performance of the building is equally important.
The intervention acts both on the thermal insulation of all external walls and on the mechanical systems, having as task the elimination of use of gas energy in favor of electric energy.
In the house shell has been improved thermal insulation; the external walls, which had large air spaces between the masonry, which have considerable thicknesses of 25/30 cm, are isolated with cellulose blowing; the garret is insulated with 10cm thick high-density wood fiber panels; all existing windows are replaced with new high-performance ones.
Furthermore, on the south side new large windows, with high-performance glass, and shielding curtains for solar control provide beneficial contribution of solar radiation during winter months.
The general improvement of the building shell was also accompanied by a new and highly efficient radiant heating system with heat pump combined with photovoltaic panels with storage.
A heat pump system guarantees the heating of sanitary water in addition to cooling.
The use of the induction cooker is also part of final elimination of gas energy from the house.
Finally, a centralized air extracting system guarantees the healthiness of the air.
DELISABATINI architetti
The associated architecture firm DELISABATINI architetti was established in 2005 by the architects Francesco Sabatini and Francesco Deli, following the desire of comparing two very different academic backgrounds of its founders.
DELISABATINI architetti expresses its own point of view about the continuous dialogue between the artistic and material approach in architecture.
The firm is engaged in equal measure in both design competitions and professional works. It is convinced that applied architectural research has not its moment of maximum expression by sublimating design activity, but by providing its construction, thus getting free from its author.
The firm deals with design at all scales from the industrial objects designing to urban planning; for doing this it employs professional consulting that ensure adequate and satisfactory answers to any matter faced.
Beside the professional activity DELISABATINI architetti carries out teaching and research job in the Faculty of Architecture of Rome “La Sapienza”.
The firm took part in several national and international architectural competitions winning relevant awards.
Francesco Sabatini (1973) gets in 2000 the Degree in Architecture “cum laude” from University of Rome “La Sapienza” with an academic thesis entitled “Design of a Museum of Meteorology in Cambridge”. Since 2000 collaborates with the Faculty of Architecture “Valle Giulia”, Rome as teacher’s assistant at the courses of Architectural Design. In 2005 establishes, together with architect Francesco Deli, the architecture firm DELISABATINI architetti.
He received a PhD in Architectural Composition DRACO from La Sapienza University of Architecture in Rome with the thesis “Housing in Europa 1980-2005: il Belgio e LA CASA URBANA come alternativa sostenibile alla casa unifamiliare”.
Francesco Deli (1970) gets in 2004 the Degree in Architecture “cum laude” at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” with an academic thesis entitled “An Art Factory in Mancini square, Rome” the essay got the right to be published. Since 2000 collaborates with the Faculty of Architecture “Valle Giulia”, Rome as teacher’s assistant at the courses of Architectural Design. In 2005 establishes, together with architect Francesco Sabatini, the architecture firm DELISABATINI architetti.
