Golden Box | Arzignano, Italy

Indoor living

The project’s aim is to design a new space of inhabitation situated within an existing apartment that dates back to the early 1900s, acting as a weekend getaway and place of refuge from the bustling city.

Design Philosophy

Stemming from a reflection on the concept of dwelling, the design abolishes all circulation spaces from the floor plan and creates a single 5x5m volume that hosts all the necessary functions. Liberating the space from existing partitions and restoring the Palladian floor allowed for the insertion of the “golden box”, which contains the kitchen, sleeping area, bathroom and relaxation space. The project draws inspiration from Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte Perriand and their work on spaces for small living.

Functional Layout & Orientation

In an attempt to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space, the new volume aligns with Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the city’s main roads, while the only window opening on the east façade frames the adjacent Mattarello Courtyard. Access to the courtyard is extended to the interior of the bathroom, through a curved glass partition, positioned at the corner of the opposing the window. Specially crafted frames and elements hide joints and attachments.

Material Palette

The box’s materiality creates tensions with the ceiling’s existing decorative elements as well as the irregular geometry of the walls. A specific method of etching and joining the slabs is developed, where a single material skin envelops the volume, alternating between concealing and revealing the various functions. Green is used as the sole color of the composition, referencing the copper roofing of the church designed by Giovanni Michelucci in Arzignano. More specifically, imperial green marble is used in the bathroom and kitchen, while lacquered wood and velvet break up the material uniformity, adding texture and “softness” to the composition.