Apartment
Via Dandolo
Apartment
There are 126 steps that connect Viale Glorioso to Via Dandolo via the “Scalea del Tamburino”: In the late 19th century, it was on these steps that Domenico Subiaco, a young Garibaldian who served as the drummer (in Italian tamburino) for the 1st Infantry Regiment, was killed by the French.
However, this staircase is not just a historical landmark; it is also a symbol of local identity. Away from the tourist routes, generations of young people have gathered here at the usual meeting times.
In 1953, Giorgio Calza Bini designed a beautiful building right next to the steps. His extensive experience in urban planning played a crucial role in creating a building positioned between two levels: the upper entrance on Via Dandolo and the lower end, seven floors down, at the base of the steps.
The building is adorned with colourful mosaic decorations typical of the 1950s in the shared spaces, such as the mailboxes and staircase railings.
Only one apartment enjoys a linear balcony running the full length of the building overlooking the steps, offering views towards Trastevere. This balcony connects the entire apartment while extending the interior space into the outside environment. The apartment belongs to a young couple who commissioned the renovation.
The key points of the project are as follows:
● Creation of a large living space bordered by the balcony overlooking the steps;
● Renovation of the balcony around the living room to make it an outdoor extension of the interior space;
● Salvaging and repurposing the marble slabs from the original flooring by breaking them up and reassembling them in a 1950s Palladian style;
● Screening the entrance to the apartment without disrupting the unified space, which also encompasses the entrance area. A large oak cabinet, serving as a storage unit and closet, blocks the view of the front door from the living room.
