When I first spotted the images of this colourful apartment in Turin (Torino), I was certain this was the work of Marcante Testa/UdA Architetti. As it turns out, I was wrong (What? That, like, never happens dude!), as this apartment is the work of Stefano Carera and Eirini Giannakopoulou of SCEG architects. My wild guess would be that either Stefano and/ or Eirini, or someone from the practice has worked at UdA at some point, as the resemblance is uncanny!

Measuring approximately 90sqm, this home is located in Turin’s district of Lingotto – an area that’s been subject to a great deal of redevelopment. The site was originally the first production facility for FIAT designed by Mattè Trucco, transformed by Renzo Piano in the recent years.

The designers took a great deal of inspiration from the apartment’s context, and it’s close proximity to the Park. Similarly to the way the building sits on the axes that provides direct walking routes to the Park, SCEG “generated a second level of movement inside the apartment.” The circular path of travel through the apartment occurs through the “public” spaces (studio/ living room/ kitchen), while the private and most intimate spaces remain protected.

Most of the furnishing were made especially for the projects, such as the library, desk, bench, sofa, TV unit and cabinets for food storage. Other pieces like the lamps, the table and the chairs were chosen for their 60’s and 70’s aesthetic, with the aim to make the space feel more welcoming.

The vibrant colour and material palette serves to delineate the spaces by giving each room it’s own individual character. The designers sought to create the feeling of a house inside a house, with colours playing a pivotal part in this approach. The continuous grey resin floor is reminiscent of a road – a nod to the building’s history as the car production facility, while bright yellow Bolon flooring is used like as a finish that warms the most intimate spaces.

SCEG explain they like to imagine their projects as a “movie” – an predictable sequence of scenes. The element of surprise plays a hugely important part in their projects, and I think we can all agree they’ve nailed it with this one.

[Images courtesy of SCEG architects. Photography by Serena Eller Vainicher.]