A Modern Revival

Tucked within verdant hills on the fringes of Rome stands a villa that holds elements of Frank Lloyd Wright’s clean-lined aesthetic. Originally built in the 1960s as a vacation retreat, this modernist gem has been reimagined by STUDIOTAMAT as a family home that offers the conveniences of city life while remaining close to nature.

The studio’s approach was one of reverence rather than reinvention, stripping away corridors and utility spaces that had fragmented the original flow while opening the interiors to create a more fluid dialogue between rooms. Original materials – stone walls, exposed brick, weathered wood and concrete – were preserved, their patina embraced as testament to the villa’s rich history.

“Throughout the renovation, we emphasized original architectural details that inspired some of the custom furnishings,” explains Matteo Soddu, co-founder of STUDIOTAMAT. “Take, for example, the kitchen windows and the upstairs study, both of which feature a central rhomboid motif – a nod to the original 1950s ironwork found throughout the villa. It was a balancing act: this house delivers stimulating and relaxing spaces in equal measure.”

The villa’s elliptical staircase serves as its fulcrum, visible from the entrance and organizing the ground floor spaces with elegant symmetry. To the east, the living room unfolds around a stone fireplace that has been integrated seamlessly into the wall, while vintage Marenco sofas by Arflex anchor the television area. The guest bathroom, entirely wrapped in exotic Colony wallpaper, features a sculptural Devon&Devon sink that channels the glamour of 1920s American design.

Westward, the kitchen centres on a commanding island in Persian Red Travertine, while a built-in dining nook beneath the window creates intimacy for smaller meals. Clever panelling conceals the practical necessities – refrigerators, pantries, and two hidden passages that lead to service areas.

The furnishings reflect the owners’ eclectic sensibilities, blending vintage discoveries with design icons, such as in the dining room, where Marcel Breuer’s Cesca chairs surround a high-gloss lacquered table from Punto Zero.

Upstairs, oak parquet floors connect the bedrooms, each overlooking the main staircase and unified by a continuous path of cream-coloured resin. The study, with its custom glass wall and generous window overlooking the main terrace, becomes a sanctuary of light and inspiration, made cosy by a Tuscan Red ceiling from Little Greene.

In the bedrooms, statement wallpaper and custom-built wardrobes reflect individual personalities, while the top-floor loft offers inspiring views of the nature-rich surroundings and the grand city of Rome on the horizon.

A home that seamlessly connects modernist principles with contemporary family life, the villa’s architectural legacy lives on.