fuksas refurbishes palazzo ex unione militare in rome
image © gianni basso
all images courtesy of massimiliano fuksas architetto
massimiliano fuksas architetto enhances palazzo ‘ex unione militare’ in rome with voluptuous forms and lighting displays. a triangular glass void cuts through the building to the roof where one can dine under the undulating enclosure. its steel structure rises 7.5 meters at the highest point, and covers a 300 square meter restaurant with views of the nearby domes of saint ambrose basilica and carlo al corso. during the day the extrusion shines like a mirror, but at night the space glows like a lantern. on the lower levels, the intervention allows one to view and access activity on other floors, as it contains vertical circulation elements. the entry becomes a bazaar of display areas composed of glass shelving and shiny white fiberglass forms, finished with colored patterns in shades of orange, red and violet. LEDs illuminate the stairs, exhibitions, and facade in complementary colors.
(left): rising 7.5 meters above the roof, ‘the lantern’ can be seen poking through ‘palazzo ex unione militare’ from via del corso
(right): the lantern cuts through the entire building, creating visual and physical connections among the floors
images © gianni basso
the undulating glass enclosure over the 300 square meter roof-top restaurant frames panoramic views of the domes of basilica of saint ambrose and carlo al corso
image © gianni basso
display areas are composed of glass shelving and shiny white fiberglass forms
image © gianni basso
floor patterns are finished in shades from orange to red to violet
image © gianni basso
the 19th century facade has been refurbished and enhanced with theatrical lighting
image © gianni basso
project info:
project: refurbishment of the “ex unione militare” building
site: rome, at the corner between via del corso and via tomacelli
period: 2008 – 2013
architects: massimiliano and doriana fuksas
interior design: fuksas design
area: 6.116 sq.m. 4 floors
general contractor: cev spa – costruzioni edilizie vendramin
engineering: tecnobrevetti srl; esa engineering
“lantern” structure: sthalbau pichler
lighting: speirs & major associates
