Architect Francesco Pierazzi took an unconventional approach to his own home. Casa Bassa was originally a two-car garage in London, and the building’s exterior hints at this. But inside, everything is completely different: despite the modest area of the house, the architect managed to create a multifunctional space with all the necessary zones.
The entrance to the living quarters is carefully hidden: next to the monolithic staircase leading to the second floor, there is a door made of the same burnt boards as the facade. Inside, there is a hall with a second light and a staircase leading to the rooms. The sun-drenched, light spaces effectively contrast with the exterior of the house: instead of dark zinc and ebony, white and bright accent shades in the furniture and accessories dominate here.
The rhythm of the graphic vertical pattern of the roof continues in the pattern of the walls and the kitchen island. The layout resembles an urban loft with a large open living room combined with a kitchen and a multifunctional area that can be used as a guest bedroom, office, or living room.
Francesco Pierazzi describes the work on Casa Bassa as akin to programming. “It’s like a binary system of ones and zeros: the vertical binary rhythm of the façade influenced the choice of technical solutions, materials, and finishes.” The end result is a compact house that follows the exact contours of the garage, where everything is in its place.
