renzo piano's little red house recreates family domesticity at a women's prison in rome

RENZO PIANO COMPLETES ‘MA.MA’ IN ROME

a world away from typical prison architecture, renzo piano‘s G124 group has realized a 28sqm red house for inmates of rome‘s rebibbia prison. named ‘MA.MA. (form for affectivity and maternity)’, the project aims to recreate a little piece of domesticity and provide a welcoming space where inmates can visit their families. 

the women’s prison forms just one part of the larger rebibbia prison complex in the north-eastern outskirts of rome. for this recent intervention, G124 talks about the ‘double guilt’ female prisoners live with, of both the crime they committed and the guilt of being away from their families. 

images courtesy of G124 renzo piano

THE quintessential SHAPE OF HOME

the main idea behind MA.MA. was to design a space where inmates can maintain their relationships with loved ones and their role within the family, therefore facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration when they leave the prison. 

to achieve this ‘domestic dimension’, the architects shaped a building with a double pitched roof that evokes the quintessential image of home. this familiar shape is also repeated in the small loggia, which leads into the internal room. the interior comprises a living room, a kitchenette and dining area, plus a small service nucleus.

a double pitched roof evokes the traditional idea of home

the house is finished in red paint, creating a childlike and almost cartoonish feel. the interiors also prioritize natural light and wooden finishes to afford a cozy and inviting environment. 

MA.MA. was built with the help of inmates using prefabricated timber panels, which were made in the prison’s carpentry. this simplified method allowed for a quick and easy construction onsite. it’s also G124’s hope that the self-build system, which is more easily transported and assembled, means the little red house could be replicated in other sites.

MA.MA. was a collaborative work between the architects from the G124 project of senator renzo piano, the DAP department of penitentiary administration, and la sapienza university of rome.

MA.MA. getting its red paint finish

prefabricated wooden panels were used for the construction

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project info:

name: MA.MA. (form for affectivity and maternity)

location: rebibbia, rome, italy

architecture: G124 renzo piano