B&B Il Battistero

The project begins in 2010 with the intent of renovating a big apartment at the top floor of a historical palace overlooking Piazza d'Arringo and only few meters away from the octagonal Baptistery, one of the most picturesque spots of Ascoli Piceno. The major challenge was to bring an architectural dignity back, mostly to the part of the residence dedicated to hospitality. The role of the mansion emphasizes the fusion with the surroundings, an outstanding example of single-material city, entirely built in white travertine. The inner ambiances overlook directly the square and keep a chromatic balance with the visual glimpses; the terraces are designed as lounges plunged into the whiteness of the stone, becoming convivial spots where continuous perceptive exchanges happen. The idea of welcoming guests through the transformation of a part of the apartment into a B&B leads to maximise the flexibility of the new inner functions. In order to feel closer to his own habits, the user is free to interprete and customise the ambiance, still remaining in a new familiar context. Sleeping is conceived through the design of three fitted rooms with private bathrooms. The bed, conceptually indivisible, becomes versatile and adaptable in different solutions to better welcome the guests. Having breakfast has been located in the major ambiance of the house, allowing the guests either to meet and share some time, or enjoy their own privacy. All the spaces , according to the season, benefit of the extremely free relation between inside and outside. The new living, the focal point of the residence, is enhanced and designed around a staircase made of small and large steps, a real crossroad between the indoor and the outdoor terraces. The stairs have both the lively and curious function of climbing to the roof and the more particular one of sitting to chat or listen to some music.