Project Casa Roberto MontevideoThere are some houses that don’t forget their history but that, thanks to a subtle restoration, become able to live along with it and at the same time to reshape theirselves in a contemporary key.
This is the case of Casa Roberto, An elegant hôtel particulier in the heart of Montevideo. First built in 1912, as part of a project commisioned by the English property tycoon Sir Henry Hamilton, it’s a prime example of the renowned architecture of the start of the Twentieth Century, with touches of the exquisite. Thankfully, in over a century of existence, everything has been strictly preserved and cared for. None of the varied decorative elements have been altered. As such, one discovers the luxuriant pine floors, the enormous windows, the remarkable central skylight and the majestic staircase leading to the upper floor to be practically untouched. The restoration, starting with the fabric of the building itself, encompasses contemporary ‘habitability’, the necessities of modern life, the pleasure of sharing and the various functions which the new owner, Roberto Begnini, has discovered for these spaces. The original british colour palette has been studied, so to reconstruct an historical atmosphere but also inluding a few eclectic touches. The living was in good condition. The intervention here has been limited to the wall colour. It has been realized a fake lambris in a deep purple enamel, that is separated from the walls thanks to a gros grain blue ribbon. The ceiling, that presents precious decorations in plaster, has been painted in grey, so to enhance the scuplted details.
The furnishing is a refined mix of different styles. In the dining room the original wooden lambris has been restored and to enhance it it has been chosen a very light pastel colour for the walls.
At its four corners, in harmony with the original soul of the house, it has been applied a british deco wallpaper by Osborne & Little, embroidered by a thick passementerie. The big table, made from different marble types (design & production Casa Roberto Interiors) is composed by 8 different pieces, so to adapt the table to the different uses of this room. The stair and the hall were in perfect condition. The only intervention has been a proper restoration. The original painting has been preserved and left as a striped decoration.
The patio, that had been abandoned for several years, had a monumental vitraux, now restored by mixing green and violet glasses. These colours match perfectly the impressive bouganville. On the other side, the wall has been lifted up, so to hide the neighborhood and the has been embellished thanks to a particular use of tiles, that recreate an oriental pattern. The pavement has been totally redesigned with a black and white mosaic, inspired by fabrics from Uzbekistan.
The room number 1 was originally a deposit, so a deep work of renovation was required, as well as the construction of a brand new bathroom. Thanks to wìthe width of the space it has been possible to realized a double shower.
Here we also find an old bathroom suite, completely restored and the final effect is pretty surprising. In the proper room, we tried to enhance to industrial style by playing with the electrical system (visible on purpose). An old sign provenient from an italian store serves as headboard. Room number 2 had a very original floor and that has been the starting point to create an eclectic and intimate space. The old serving hatch has become a small cupboard. Moreover, a small sink has been added and its pink colour perfectly matches the room.
In room number 3 it has been necessary to create a bathroom by using a part of its surface. That’s why a doorless entrance has been created. The inspiration is a cabinet de curiosité with typical wunderkammern decorations inspired by nature, like the Cole & Sons wallpaper.
Room number 4 is an homage to the time when the house has been built. It’s an historical Libery reconstruction, but in a delicate way. The english wallpaper, that recreates an original design, creates a “time machine” effect, as well as the tiles that have been used for the bathroom, that are the same that can be found in the historical stations of the metro in Paris. Also the colour choice has been inspired by art nouveau decorations, that usually combine brown, green and ivory.
In room number 5 the combination of colors of the floor (black, grey, ivory and oxide), also present in other rooms of the house, has been studied so to create an eclectic effect.
The leitmotiv here is the arch, that can be noticed in different elements of the room, like the neogotic shield, the painting that represent the genealogy of the royal british monarchy or the curios hanger, that has been realized with elements from a montevidean door, not to mention the three trompe l’œil painted windows, that serve as a headboard for the canopy bed (original design: Casa Roberto Interiors). |
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