Dezeen Magazine

Archiplan Studio blends old and new for restoration of early 20th-century Italian villa

Archiplan Studio has rejuvenated the interior of a villa in northern Italy, reviving original wallpapers and furnishings, and pairing them with contemporary details (+ slideshow).

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

Italian architects and Archiplan directors Diego Cisi and Stefano Gorni Silvestrini adopted a relatively conservative approach to the restoration of the early 20th-century Casa Errepi, which is located just outside Milan in the town of Busto Arszio.

Their aim was to leave much of the building's original exterior and interior intact, with minimal intervention.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

"For us, the signs of ageing are to be valued because they constitute a key element in the relationship between old and new," said Cisi. "They are like the wrinkles on the face of a woman – we should give value to them."

Most of the renovation work was concentrated in the bedrooms, located on the upper level of the two-storey house, and in the central stairwell.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

Archiplan restored the original wallpapers by lightly brushing the surfaces, revealing unexpected textures and complexity. The surfaces were then carefully resealed to protect them from further deterioration.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

"This restoration project attempts to harmonise complete opposites such as strength and fragility, the perfect and the imperfect, the brightness of a piece of furniture that has just arrived from the factory with the unpredictability of materials that have fallen into a state of disrepair," Cisi told Dezeen.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

"We, as a studio, consider the effects the passage of time has on building a patrimony which we safeguard in all of our restorations and renovations," he added.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

The architects also redesigned the kitchen's interior. They installed a custom-designed chandelier in the centre of the ceiling, and below it they added a 6.5-metre-long dining table.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

"The large table becomes a place to prepare food, a place where meals are eaten and also a place where children can sit and do their homework," said Cisi.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

The clients also requested the addition of more washbasins, which were installed in the kitchen and in the first-floor bathroom.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio

Despite wanting to maintain the building's original aesthetic as much as possible, Archiplan did make a few changes to the building's exterior. The roofing was replaced as its structural stability was a concern, and existing windows were upgraded.

Photography is by Archiplan Studio.

Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio
First floor plan – click for larger image