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A geometric Mondrian-style suspended ceiling to mark out spaces

This interiors project for a Turin flat turns to rectangular shapes in interplay between light and volumes

Italia and Partners

How to make a suspended ceiling design
By Editorial Staff -

Striking harmony through balance in the relationship between lines, colours and surfaces. This is what Mondrian always stated regarding his geometries, his famous colour-filled squares. And the architect Matteo Italia from the Italia and Partners studio seems to have at least partly followed this inspiration in his new interiors project for a Turin home in the Crocetta neighbourhood, opting instead for matt white outlined with black.

The home ‒ a flat with a total floor space of 230 m2 ‒ opens up with a broad entrance area that is extremely pleasant and bright. This hall then leads to a large living room flaunting generous dimensions ‒ it measures some 80 m2. These are enhanced through an unusual combination of suspended ceilings marking out the division of spaces.

Large rectangular shapes traced out in black lines with lights fitted inside create ceiling-based geometries introducing one of the style motifs identifying the project.

 

Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

A geometric Mondrian-style suspended ceiling to mark out spaces

The entire apartment unfurls developing a theme of restraint and minimalism, playing on purity of line and precision in volumes, softened by a natural palette ‒ based on sandy tones ‒ plus a few arresting design pieces.

 

One of the most interesting design challenges of this apartment was certainly the pillar located in the centre of the living room, the architect Matteo Italia explained. We clad it in the same wood panelling chosen for the walls, mellowing this with lines that endow the entire interior with a classic air, to yield a very balanced result.

And so the pillar has become not only a visual but also a practical centre-point: it divides off the usable living room from the entrance, thanks also to the custom-made cabinet unit we designed ‒ in black walnut with Calacatta marble top ‒ and had built around the column.

 

 

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Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

Opposite this two-faced unit stands a sideboard mirroring it, again designed and custom-made from black walnut. This material then becomes a leitmotif and recurrent element in the entire project, contrasting pleasingly with the pale tones of the living room. These shades are featured not only on the walls but also on the settees and the large rug that a coffee table stands central to. 

An attractive suspended light hanging in the space fitted out to offer a fireplace brings a quirky touch to the whole setting.

 Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

Spatial interplay with a pocket door flush to the wall

Looking out onto the living room is the dining area, which is also next to the kitchen. Here an unusual brass table stands out, sided by velvet-upholstered chairs.

The kitchen is very spacious and provides a peninsula lined by stools with a snack top above ‒ lit by two pendant lamps ‒ for enjoying quick informal meals. Instead, when more relaxing seating is required for lunches or dinners to be savoured at a slow pace, the circular table is ideal. Leaving the kitchen through a flush-to-the-wall pocket door gives access to a utilities area with a laundry room.

 

Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

The day zone also includes a bathroom for guests: its finishes explore an appealing raised herringbone pattern ‒ accentuated by the lighting and protruding wall detail ‒ that picks up on the chevron of the oak parquet flooring running throughout the flat.

 

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Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

Velvet the colour of sugar paper for the night zone

Moving through to the night zone ‒ totally detached from the daytime area and with a reworked layout for greater practicality ‒ we find four rooms, one of which is a study.

The master bedroom, with a large walk-in closet, looks out onto a small outdoor space: this is also accessed from the day zone and provides an appealing opening towards the outside.

Featuring a bed finished in velvet the colour of sugar paper, this room has an en-suite bathroom: a double washbasin vanity unit in black walnut is separated by a shower from the bidet, W.C. and free-standing tub at the far end of the space.

 

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Largo Re Umberto - Italia and Partners Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners

 

A special finish has been chosen for the bathroom, highlighted by the interplay between the protruding wall sections and oblique lighting, while the ceiling incorporates brass-finish spotlights. Instead, the other bathroom in the night zone displays black and white in contrast.

 

Welcoming, stylish, practical and with great personality: these are the key words guiding the drafting of the brief and the designing of the interiors for this home, the architect Matteo Italia commented. The outcome has confirmed itself as being up to the clients' expectations, and we are extremely satisfied at managing to bring a distinctive twist to these spaces, using lines, forms and colours to shape a perfect setting for the family whose home it will be.

 

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Credits

Location: Torino
Building area: 230 m2
Project by Matteo Italia, studio Italia and Partners
Photography by Federico Moschietto, courtesy of Italia and Partners
Suppliers: FLOS (Lighting)

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