A seamless blend of history and modernity in the A12 Apartment Rome
In the heart of Rome, DKA – Diele Kerciku Architetture has reimagined the A12 Apartment, a 100-square-meter space that honors its architectural heritage while embracing contemporary living. The renovation of this iconic residence celebrates the original brick vaults and high ceilings, which serve as a foundation for a more open and interconnected layout. Instead of hiding the historic elements, DKA uses them as a framework to craft an inviting living environment.
Transformative thresholds with deep blue portals
The design begins at the entrance, which acts as a central axis connecting the apartment’s two wings. A striking pale-blue joinery element integrates wardrobes, storage, and access points, creating a seamless flow throughout. Deeper blue portals frame the transitions between rooms, enhancing the visual and spatial experience of this masterfully redesigned space.

In the living area, a custom-designed bookcase rises to prominence, woven into the fabric of the room rather than merely set within it. This area effortlessly connects to the kitchen, which features a technical palette of etched glass and steel, complementing the light oak parquet and maintaining the apartment’s historic charm.

Color: the language of connection
Color plays a pivotal role in uniting the home’s elements. The children’s room, for instance, includes a suspended net, transforming the space into a dynamic area for play and rest. Throughout the apartment, hues of blue and red delineate spaces, highlighting the transitions between architecture and bespoke furniture.
Lighting from Flos and Artemide accentuates the contrast between the old and new materials, enhancing the apartment’s depth and character. Through deliberate structural changes and a well-curated color palette, DKA ensures that every element speaks to both the past and the present within this vibrant interior.


The harmony of materials and design in A12 Apartment Rome
In the kitchen, pale-blue cabinetry contrasts with steel surfaces and dark-blue elements, set against light oak flooring to create a reflective and sophisticated environment. Meanwhile, the original brick vaults continue to assert their presence in the bedroom, complemented by custom joinery in calming blue tones.




Innovative spaces for modern living
Elsewhere in the residence, a suspended net lends versatility to the children’s room, inviting play and creativity. In contrast, red built-in storage punctuates the blue surfaces, using color as a tool for articulation. The entrance hall, designed as a central guiding path, weaves continuous bespoke joinery into the aesthetic narrative of the apartment.


Evolving the A12 Apartment Rome’s chromatic dialogue
In the bathroom, vibrant red details carry the apartment’s chromatic language throughout, seamlessly connecting different areas. DKA’s thoughtful renovation acknowledges the juxtaposition of timelines, using bold design choices to maintain the apartment’s historical integrity while fostering a modern lifestyle here.

The project, submitted by DKA – Diele Kerciku Architetture, is a testament to the power of design in breathing new life into historic spaces, making them relevant for today’s living requirements, as celebrated by DKA’s Instagram @diele_kerciku_architetture.

To explore blending past with present, Pierre-Louis Ferrer’s infrared look at Latvia captures a unique fusion of old and new.

Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
How does color play a role in A12 Apartment design?
Color plays a pivotal role in uniting the home’s elements. Throughout the apartment, hues of blue and red delineate spaces, highlighting the transitions between architecture and bespoke furniture.
What is unique about the thresholds in the A12 Apartment?
Transformative thresholds with deep blue portals frame the transitions between rooms, enhancing the visual and spatial experience of the redesigned space.
How does the A12 Apartment merge history with modernity?
The renovation of the A12 Apartment celebrates the original brick vaults and high ceilings, using them as a framework for a more open and interconnected layout that embraces contemporary living.
