La Macchina Studio Transforms a 1950s Apartment in Rome into a Playful Space

“Most of our influences come from the arts: cinema, painting and illustration—from the Sienese School and David Lynch to Katsumi Komagata and Prince,” confess Gianni Puri and Enrica Siracusa, cofounders of La Macchina Studio. These sources of inspiration helped them to renovate an 807-square-foot apartment from the 1950s—located in Rome, Italy—for a young couple. The architects introduced new materials such as Botticino marble and brick red microcement throughout, combining them with bold pops of color such as the blue arched door in the main living area that leads to the bedroom.

“It is very important for us to create theatrical [spaces],” say Siracusa. In this project, the duo behind La Macchina Studio strove to reflect the magic in everyday life. “We wanted to enhance the irreverent and surreal nature of the architecture story […] by playing with color contrasts, graphic motifs, and unexpected incursions,” Puri concludes.