Archive for the ‘Atomaa’ Category

House Cinsc in À Vivre Magazine

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

"THE INCREDIBLE SOBRIETY OF A STONE HOUSE"

A very steep road crosses the mountain to reach a small group of houses perched on a ridge. We are in one of the rare regions spared by mass tourism of the 1950s. Pastures and cultivated fields have given way to dense woods. There, an old stable that has become a ruin, in delicate balance, reserved some surprises for those who were to transform it. Indeed, Andrea Del Pedro Pera, Cesare Galligani and Umberto Maj, founders of the Milanese architecture firm ATOMAA, could not have suspected the presence of a large stone vault and a fireplace on the ground floor, remains of a past residence.

This pass is reactive thanks to the restoration of the old form and the consolidation of the walls, but above all with the development of new places of cohabitation - the kitchen and dining room - at the heart of the existing volume. In order to best serve all rooms of the house spread over the three levels, the architects create a central core of laminated birch plywood that hosts the staircase.

Anxious to integrate the project into its environment, the designers opt for an exterior of stone “where the textures of the walls between old and new intertwine into a single stitch, reconstructed by hand, stone by stone". The interior is more of a wooden box inserted into the stone envelope: floors, walls and ceilings are composed of elements from old floor-boards and deteriorated roof beams, or larch of the valley, when needed. The result, therefore, is that more sober, rigorous, and minimal.

At nearly 1,400 meters above sea level, northwest of the Italian Alps, a ruin typical of the region previously housed cattle and hay. The Milanese architects of ATOMAA transformed it into an elegant contemporary house of great sobriety. And to do this, they use every stone and piece of wood found on site.

ATOMAA transforms a ruined stable into a contemporary house without betraying its past thanks to respect for volumes and materials. The exterior retains its stone body blending with the landscape, while the interior offers a new intimate and warm wooden cocoon.

Reuse is a key element of the project: the walls were built with the stones of the old disused parts, the lintels of the doors and windows with the wood of the old roof; the retaining walls of the terraces as well as the volume of the extension erected from portions of excavated rock.

For more content:
View the project: Link
View the publication: Link

ATOMAA invited to present at the Platform Architecture Festival in Venice

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

During the summer months of 2021 in Venice, Platform architecture and design organised an important initiative that saw the simultaneous staging of two thematic exhibitions, involving 140 architecture studios from all over the world.

"Best Italian Interior Design" offers an overall of interior design by Italian architects, with no limitation in terms of geography or type (residential, hospitality, retail, etc.); while "Best International Houses" offers a view of the world's places to live through the selection of 70 projects chosen by a scientific committee on the basis of applications from all five continents.

The prestigious location of the event is the Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Misericordia in Venice. Completely restored in 2015, today the Misericordia is a monumental space where art, history and culture dialogue with the territory, and is an institutional venue for prestigious exhibitions, installations and cultural events.

For each of the two exhibitions, a dedicated volume collecting the selected projects has been published, together with a General Catalogue of Casa Platform Venezia, concerning the partner companies of the event and the cultural initiatives scheduled.

For more content on this project:
View the project: link
View the publication: link
View the presentation: link
Photography by: Marco Cappelletti

ATOMAA featured in publication “EMERGING EUROPEAN PRACTICES” by New Generations

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

Alvaro Siza teaches us:

"Architects don't invent anything; they transform reality"

The first steps
We started off in university with a field trip to Brno, which led to countless beers and talks about what we'd like to be when we grow up. Then from a basement space with ping pong tables and Casabella, after long nights of collaboration and brainstorming, we would work tirelessly on our master thesis. At some point, along came the diaspora: the 'Foz do Douro; the ancient theatre of Epidaurus the Atacama Desert; in the time left over we did some competitions too. This was followed by a number of apprenticeships: at Chipperfield Archi-tects, Onsitestudio, and time spent doing research , at the Polytechnic University of Milan. After all that, on one night, upholding a 15 years long tradition of drinking a beer together, the decision to try to do it all together was born; and so began ATOMAA.

Honouring the unexpected
In one of our projects a renovation of an old apartment, on removal of the wooden floor, a rugged yet beautiful configuration was revealed: underneath, alter decades of being hidden trom sight, was an irregular layout complete in itself, forgotten even by those who had produced it long before. The image of the original floor substructure which was laid in an apparently casual yet effective manner highlights the work of a local artisan in which the hand of a man seemed to be the only rule. We then decided to honour that forgotten gesture by bringing it back to life and representing it in the new concrete floor. The idea was immediately loved by the client and we were allowed to create a very unique floor.

Keeping calm and a healthy balance
We try to maintain a balance between our work and private lives. We try to keep the studio closed on weekends and we also encourage our colleagues and collaborators to follow a good hourly balance. We believe that the things we learn simply by living are just as useful for design as the time spent in the studio. You will never be able to design a good kitchen if you do not know how to cook a good dish. Even if the organisation of time in contemporary project processes is often frenetic, we practice the 'Resistenza': we take the time to discuss ongoing projects in a slow and calm manner and then make calculated decisions and even work by hand. We build models to study details; we use freehand sketches to help us reason and develop ideas; we use mood boards of real material samples, which is simply irreplaceable. Group discussions during what we call, 'project workshops', allow us to come together and to present ideas around a table and this has formed the essence of the ATOMAA design process.

Dual office
We have just moved into a new workspace in Milan in an area called Nolo, one of the new design districts of the city. Our office, situated on the ground floor, has two display windows onto the street which connect us with the world passing by, while the back of the office opens onto an internal courtyard, a silent and lush urban oasis which blooms in spring. On the ground floor we have an operational open space with two collective work tables, a small table for on-the-go project reviews, and a relaxation area. In the lower level, under a beautiful brick vaulted ceiling, we have both a more private room suitable for the rather meditative moments as well as for daily meetings with our Edinburgh office. We also have a dedicated workshop for building models and sample processing.

The collective act of building
Of course, we too graduated with the desire to make big buildings (our 3 theses were a library, a museum, and a skyscraper). Currently we are working on domestic architecture, interior spaces and small houses. We almost always work in pre-existing contexts and ancient buildings in the centre of Milan, as well as in rural contexts in the Alps, or in central Italy. Over time, common aspects have emerged in our creative process: one of these, perhaps the main one, is an aversion to the 'tabula rasa'. We believe in the importance of buildings, rather than projecting great competition just as a study of ideas. We believe in learning by doing, respecting the people who are committed to the great collective process of building and to further enhance the materials with which we build.

Understanding our place
Design is not a purpose but rather a means which has the pursuit of happiness as its goal. At a time when this right is accepted and expressed by more and more people, a stance on the use of this gift (material and human) is unavoidable. Here is ours: we understood that the answer may not necessarily come from "invention" (for example the latest synthetic material, designed for a super performance) but rather from reinterpretation, reuse and transformation. The idea behind this mode of operation is that of reducing "waste" (which often has to do with attributing the value we give to things).

Thus, our research on micro-living has, at its heart, the reduction of wasted space, and it's better used where it has already been transformed i.e., the city centre in which it sits. The past instils in us a fascination equal to that of the future: it is basically a treasure chest of brilliant solutions to very practical questions once posed, in a world in which producing (and consuming) energy was less easy.

For more content
View the publication: Link

Brera Apartment featured in book by Never Too Small

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

"The team at ATOMAA were inspired by the ingenuity of Japanese design and modern European architecture. "

"Milan's Brera district is surprisingly peaceful given its central location and proximity to several Christian pilgrimage sites. In fact, the medieval district was planned, laid out and built up well before the first automobile was a glint in Karl Benz's eye. So while Brera is surrounded by a circular series of viali, its residents benefit from a distinct lack of heavy traffic."

In certain parts of the neighbourhood, narrow strade give way to wide piazzas where pedestrians peruse the trendy fashion boutiques, or can be seen enjoying the robust alfresco dining scene. This trendy part of Milan is dominated by apartment living - and stepping into a variety of homes would be to see a tapestry of the district over the centuries.

While many buildings here are hundreds of years old, most were built during the 1800s and have undergone multiple renovations over the years. However, none reflect a modern vision for small-footprint sustainable living better than the Brera apartment by Milanese architecture firm, ATOMAA. Located in an 18th-century building, this apartment could not be more disparate from its exterior. The wall dividing the existing bedroom and the living room was the only significant change made by ATOMAA when creating the space he needed to execute an 'origami-inspired' design. The open space gave him the flexibility to create a series of sliding timber panels that can be rearranged to accommodate the needs of the residents. At only 32 sq m (344 sq ft), there wasn't a lot of space to work with. However, this clever configuration created separation between the bedroom, dining area, kitchen and living room."

"Normally in a home of this size, storage space is the first thing to go. There's simply not enough room. This makes the creativity of Brera's design so much more intriguing. Storage here is abundant. From the raised sleeping platform, which hinges up to reveal an ample wardrobe under the bed, to plenty of kitchen cabinets (a must for an Italian home), every bit of space is utilised. There's even a set of hidden stairs that slide out to make the 1.4 m (4.6 ft) trip to the raised bed a little easier.
It's small details like the circular holes cut into all the cabinetry in lieu of handles that make Brera extra special.
The same ubiquitous holes are cut into the timber of the sliding panels that hide the sleeping area during the day."

When the panels are completely closed, they let a smattering of natural light enter the room.
The notion of flexibility is a standout of this design. Brera shapeshifts frequently over the course of a day. A guest turning up in the morning, afternoon or evening would see a different configuration each time. A small-footprint resident doesn't have the luxury of moving to various rooms to accomplish their daily activities. Instead, they must transform their space to accommodate their lifestyle.

For more content
View the project: Link

Never Too Small video: Link

To purchase the book: Link

Home for an Antimatter Physicist in À vivre Magazine

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

The project of "a house for an antimatter physicist" brings together many of the themes dear to us: the challenge of space, understood as the search for its maximum potential, but also the relationship with the existing. All seasoned with a passion for handmade and a certain inclination to playfulness and surprise.

"we always see the project as an opportunity to add elements to an existing text, not to rewrite it."

What was the client's request?

In one word, renewal. For the first time, well beyond the desire for novelty with which clients often present themselves, this renewal was motivated by a profound feeling: the redemption of an unhappy childhood lived within those same walls. The client is a person accustomed to lateral thinking (an antimatter physicist), the desires for space and comfort were a multitude: a large whirlpool tub for two, an alcove with private bathroom and dressing room, a second bathroom with shower, a study with a guest bed, a comfortable kitchen, a living room with a fireplace (!), a reading area and a genkan where you can leave your shoes as soon as you enter the house.

How did you envision treating the room and the bed?

When we think of the bedroom we like to refer to the intimate and protective spatiality of the alcove: a minimal and square space where you can take refuge from the stimuli of the outside world. But at the same time we also try to refer to the comfortable world of certain hotel suites, to be able to dream of being on vacation even when you are not. This is why we always try to propose a special relationship with the private bathroom, a place for self-care, and the comfort of a spacious walk-in closet, perhaps with a seat.

In this case, a simple piece of furniture, as long as the space of the room, adds several spatial devices in a single birch volume: the 3 steps leading to the bathroom, a large chest, a comfortable seat and a white metal clothing stand for the open part of the walk-through wardrobe. A sliding panel, of the same material, floats on this volume like a veil and hides behind it the spatiality of a private spa in green mosaic.

A large concrete porthole plays with the conventions of intimacy and modesty, connecting the bathtub with the bedroom. The white tones of the resin on the floor and the stuccoes, the warm colour of the birch and the frankness of the concrete artifacts form the calm and luminous background of the resting place.

What does the theme "rest" mean to you?































"The Bedroom"
Vincent van Gogh, Arles, October 1888,

Rest is more than sleep. Like many human needs, it extends beyond biological necessity. To the point that the thought that there are many actions we take to rest does not surprise us. Rest is not inactivity. And that is why it needs a spatiality that corresponds to it. The place of rest is therefore also the space in which to read poems, the space of yoga as soon as you wake up, the space of meditation.

All places or functions that seem neglected in the descriptions of housing offers. The theme of rest can be superimposed on the one most dear to us, comfort, understood as a moment of compensation or a break from the turmoil of exciting, productive and public life.

"Sweet dreams" we say: whether they are with closed eyes or with open eyes.





























"Noon: Rest from Work" (after Jean-François Millet),
Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

For more content
View the project: Link
View the publication: Link

A Home for Readers in Lifestyles Today

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

High above the treetops of one of the most beautiful streets in Milan, the sun fills an apartment with light, where functionality and aesthetics compete for the throne. The house, designed and built in the fall of 2019, narrates the story of those who live within: a young couple with a passion for reading, cinema, design and music.

The act of opening continues throughout the home through a series of large portal doors. The latter, however, completely integrated into a long bookcase, hides. panels of an intense yellow, which provide a defined division between entertainment and private spaces.

The project, while not upsetting the original layout of the house, gives the new owners flexible spaces, brightness, wide fields of view and a succession of varied environments that are always in communication with each other.

For more content
View the publication: Link
View the project: Link

House Cinsc in enki Magazine

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

Stories of the slopes

"Stone ruins have been rebuilt by hand to create the ultimate ski base for a young family."

"There’s something that feels utterly romantic about this dwelling – so much so that its imperfect brick facades look as though they were ripped from the pages of our favourite fairytales. And though the retreat’s storybook cham is only heightened by the jaw-dropping mountainscape in which it sits, its beginnings are in fact a little more humble.

Buried within one of the few Italian valleys yet to be hit by the wave of mass tourism that washes over the Alps, the skeleton of an old agricultural store presented a young family with a base for the ski season. Boasting close proximity to the slopes and undisturbed panoramas meant its positioning couldn’t have been more perfect."

"However, the plot was by no means without its challenges – from the existing structure being too small, to the dry stone walls not complying with regulations. Quick to find ways around this, ATOMAA created a plan that began with the painstaking dismantling and rebuilding of the historical brick formations to recreate the original silhouette before reconfiguring the floorplan.

Dressed in a warm birch ply to contrast its rugged shell, the pared-black interior also benefits from an orchestration of windows that – although may be atypical of traditional alpine structures – allow light to infiltrate deep into the plan. Finding balance between paying homage to the local vernacular and meeting the demands of a modern day client seems almost impossible, but ATOMAA’s unwavering patience and sensitive eye was just the right combination for the job."

Text: enki Magazine

Project: link

ATOMAA with Marcello Ascani

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

Brera apartment was born from a private investment in a very pleasant part of the city center. The apartment sits in a beautiful building from the turn of the century, in a rather dense 'open railing house', a typology of building that is extremely difficult to realize today given the building regulations and construction norms. This typology of building, however, is very typical of Milanese residential architecture.

This building, which used to be considered as an ordinary residential building for the working class, is today in one of the most beautiful and most trendy neighborhoods in Milan and it holds up very well.

The apartment welcomes you immediately upon entering - and that's it, it's complete.
It was not necessary for the apartment to be overturned; firstly for the budget, and secondly because it already worked well on a spatial level.

It was important to construct something that had a very simple character, so we looked into reducing the materials to the bare minimum so that everything has its place.

The real job was to optimize all of the space, with every extra inch used for storage.

One of the most important parts of the apartment is the bed. It is raised off the ground so that underneath there is space for a real walk-in closet.

Brera apartment: Link

House in a constant transition is also situated in a historic building from the 1930s, one which holds a very Art Nouveau style.

The main goal for this project, was to have a very flexible house that could be both divided into rooms but potentially also be a large open space.

The spaces are defined by a series of curtains and sliding panels which help to either open or close the spaces, depending on the time of day and the functions which are associated with that time of day. If we can give the clients the opportunity to be flexible, we consider that to be a small victory.

It became fundamental that the main services of the apartment - ie. the entrance, laundry, bathroom and wardrobe - were situated in the darkest parts of the apartment, allowing for the more open spaces - ie. the living room, kitchen/dining room and bedroom - to benefit most from the natural light that the apartment has to offer. All of these open spaces, are separated by moveable panels or curtains, which is one way of controlling the light, but also the organization of the spaces.

House in constant transition: Link

House Cinsc in Abitare Magazine

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

Restoration at altitude

"In a valley in the Alps, studio ATOMAA has rehabilitated and enlarged an old stone ruin. The essential appearance of the spaces and openings gives the interiors an intimate and contemporary character.

"From old ruin to comfortable residence, blending perfectly into the Alpine landscape of the Val Divedro, so far spared from mass tourism. House Cinsc started out from a traditional rural construction, used seasonally as a cattle shed and hay barn. 'The structure was fairly unstable, in fragile equilibrium', recalls Andrea Del Pedro Pera, responsible for the intervention with his partners Cesare Galligani and Umberto Maj of studio ATOMAA in Milan, 'but reserved some surprises. Like the ample stone arch and the old fireplace on the ground floor, from which it can be deduced that the building was also used as a dwelling.' "

"The project has restored the old form of the barn, consolidated the walls and reconfigured the internal spaces with a well-lit double-height kitchen and an additional block that enriches the original layout. Entrance and living room are located in the new volume, set against the mountain but facing onto the landscape. On the outside the building has retained its original stone walls, as required by the local regulations. The interiors, with their minimal and rigorous design, are intimate and cosy thanks to the extensive use of larch and birch wood for the floors, ceilings, walls and furniture."

“We have reutilized the material of the old ruin almost obsessively,” says Del Pedro Pera. “Discarded stones have been used to build the new walls, the wood of the old roof for the lintels of doors and windows. The retaining walls of the terracing and the new extension use portions of excavated rock. In addition, the external areas have been paved with the piòde (stone slabs, editor’s note) of the old roof. All this thanks to the skill of the local craftsmen.” And where stone and wood couldn’t do the job the architects have turned to concrete, which holds an open dialogue with the main materials of the house, just as in the new volume a pouring of black resin has taken the place of the larch floors."

"Worthy of separate discussion are the numerous openings made to reconstruct the pre-existing ones, or using archetypical geometries. From the completely glazed gable that illuminates from above the kitchen set on an intermediate floor to the arched window that lets light into the bedroom on the lowest level of the house. Spaces for the life of today, in a ‘shell’ that respects the traditions of the region."

Text credits: Luca Trombetta

Article: Link

Project: Link

House on Corstorphine Hill – Planning Permission granted

Posted by Philip Kolevsohn

Planning Permission has been granted for our proposal for a private home on Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Situated on a very narrow and complex site, the building aims to become a little and cosy family home.

The minimal site width triggered a variety of architectural solutions to the family's needs. The internal layout allows for different spaces where several functions and desires find life; the thickness of the facade becomes a tool to mediate the relationship between the internal and external landscape, providing space to live and breathe in.