Retail

Rome, Leica

In Rome, near Piazza di Spagna, on the ground floor of a historic building designed by Borromini, the Leica store and showroom take shape. The removal of architectural modifications made by previous owners provided numerous opportunities for a complete restyling of the structure.
Location:
Rome
Year:
2017
Project:
Arch. Alessia Garibaldi, Garibaldi architects
General Contractor
Taramelli S.r.l.
Photographer
Giacomo Albo

The old plasterwork has been restored and highlighted to recreate the “stratigraphy” effect of the successive layers of paint over the years. Meanwhile, the particularly high ceilings and barrel vaults dividing the rooms provided a valuable opportunity to rediscover the coexistence of ancient textured surfaces with a contemporary and elegant design.

To this end, a reinterpretation of the Leica design was conceived, leveraging the pre-existing historical elements such as rough plaster and exposed bricks to accentuate the contrast between old and new. This effect is further emphasized by Alessia Garibaldi through the use of perfectly white plasterboard panels, which alternate with the existing load-bearing walls.