House on Lake Como
A historic 18th-century villa on Lake Como survived the centuries almost untouched until it was conventionally renovated in 2019. The current renovation aimed to reclaim the unique character of the house and garden, while integrating new elements into the historic structure in an engaging dialogue.
All existing surfaces, built-in furniture, and functional objects were preserved and unified with a monochromatic paint scheme for each room. The glossy finish highlights irregularities and signs of wear, revealing multiple layers of time. Rooms facing the lake are painted in light colors to capture the radiant light and reflect the water’s reflections on the ceiling. In contrast, rooms facing away from the lake are painted in darker blue and brown tones, creating calm, introverted retreats even in the blazing summer sun. Special objects, such as character-rich furniture, bathroom marble elements, and unique lighting fixtures, were added to the monochromatic backdrop in the second phase.
Originally, the main rooms of the villa on the living floor had ceiling frescoes of varying quality, with only the fresco in the oval fireplace room remaining. As a nod to the past, Parisian painter Matthieu Cossé designed the ceilings of the two mirrored corner rooms, which house the kitchen and study.
You start dying when you stop dreaming.