Liberty Villa in Trastevere: A Private Rome Between Decoration and Design
In the vibrant heart of Trastevere, tucked away from the hustle of the main streets, there exists a quieter, more private Rome—one that speaks in whispers. It is here that STUDIOTAMAT has accomplished a small architectural miracle: breathing new life and dignity into a forgotten villino Liberty, hidden in the inner courtyard of a late 19th-century building along Viale di Trastevere. Once believed to be the caretaker’s residence for the old railway station—or, according to others, a neighborhood clinic—this intimate space has now been transformed into a sophisticated, welcoming urban retreat designed for two. A silent, elegant gesture that honors and reinterprets the past through a contemporary lens.
Spread over three compact levels and covering a total of 80 square meters, the project unfolds in volumes that engage in a dialogue with light, materials, and memory. The result? An intimate architectural narrative composed of details, color transitions, and unexpected pairings—capable of evoking Rome without ever mentioning it by name.
contemporary architecture embracing the past
From the very entrance, the villa reveals its unique character through the original veranda, lovingly restored with both delicacy and technical precision. Cathedral glass in soft shades of green, pink, and yellow filters natural light in a near-painterly manner, while the structure has been rebuilt in solar-controlled steel and glass—merging craftsmanship with technology.
Architecture here becomes an act of love: by removing the old French door that separated the veranda from the interior, STUDIOTAMAT has created a fluid threshold between inside and out, between intimacy and openness. It is on this threshold that the house begins to tell its story—a space that doesn’t deny its origins, but instead reinterprets them, giving fresh voice to its Liberty soul.
the silent language of interiors by STUDIOTAMAT
The architects’ intervention focuses on spatial intelligence and perception. The old spiral staircase gives way to a bold yet graceful alternating-tread staircase in chestnut wood. The first step, clad in Verde Alpi marble, becomes the sculptural base of a custom bookshelf. Every centimeter is thoughtfully considered and optimized: just nearby, a mirrored cabinet conceals the laundry and wardrobes, expanding the space without overwhelming it.
The living room is bathed in a renewed light, streaming in through a tall, double-height window overlooking the inner gardens. Munari presides from a Falkland pendant lamp, while the kitchen—freed from upper cabinets—unfolds like a graphic line: a Verde Alpi marble base, drawers shifting in gradient from black to terracotta, and a carefully restored antique terracotta floor. A chromatic and tactile symphony where design harmonizes with history.
The deep blue volume that houses the ground-floor utilities—fridge, pantry, and bathroom—extends vertically through the mezzanine, culminating in the master bathroom. Here, materials and forms converse gracefully: fixtures by Formafantasma for Quadro Design, Mater tiles by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina, and furnishings by Ex.t create a tactile, calming environment that stays true to the project’s spirit.
the allure of a hidden Rome
The semi-open mezzanine allows light to flow through, and multiplies the space with glass floors and mirrored panels that reflect the surroundings. The Foret parquet by Oscar Ono Paris—with its oak planks and exposed grain—echoes the materiality of the cobbled streets of Rome and Paris, in a poetic meeting of two iconic cities.
Upstairs, a second spiral staircase in raw iron with cherry wood treads connects the sleeping area to the studio. Here too, design becomes both function and sculpture: a glass wall—mirroring the rhythm of the veranda with alternating clear and ribbed panels—elegantly separates the bathroom, where a Verde Alpi marble washbasin “pierces” the glass to become a shared surface between the wet zone and the beauty area.
Finally, the terrace is a suspended garden in the heart of Rome: paved with compacted stone in two tones of green, it blends with the surrounding vegetation and reflects the home’s interior palette. A secret hideaway that captures the authentic spirit of Trastevere, where every wall tells a story, every detail is a fragment of memory.
With this project, STUDIOTAMAT signs off a space that doesn’t shout, but whispers. It doesn’t impose, but welcomes. It returns to the city a space that is intimate, coherent, and refined. A home that is also a manifesto—of beauty, of time, and of that inimitable magic that Rome, under the right conditions, still knows how to offer.
Photo credits: Serena Eller - Ellerstudio - archdaily.com