Architecture and transformation of residences in Rome
Arckeo is the Executive Workshop founded and directed by Fausto Ferrara. It operates in Italy and internationally; in Rome, its work includes the architectural transformation of apartments, penthouses and private residences. Ferrara defines the project’s authorial direction; Arckeo develops its technical and operational aspects within the agreed scope of the commission.
A substantial apartment may have a fragmented layout, existing features to preserve, a relationship with light to reconsider, or living requirements that its current arrangement cannot accommodate. The question extends beyond finishes and furnishings to the property’s architectural potential and its possibilities for transformation.
The process can begin before purchase, by assessing the property’s condition and transformation potential, or once the property has been selected, through the definition of the architectural project and its development through to construction.
What distinguishes Arckeo in the transformation of a residence?
Arckeo’s distinctive character comes from the relationship between Fausto Ferrara’s authorial direction and a structure dedicated to technical development and execution. The aim is not simply to reorganise rooms or design interiors, but to conceive an architectural transformation and preserve its coherence throughout the different stages of the project.
Fausto Ferrara’s authorial direction
Fausto Ferrara is an Italian architect, artist and author whose research is founded on the Opera Abitabile—the Inhabitable Work: an architecture in which space, light, matter, proportions and the relationship with place form an inseparable whole. His Work has been the subject of independent critical interpretations by Kenneth Frampton, Francesco Dal Co, Franco Purini, Enrico Crispolti and other internationally recognised commentators.
Arckeo: from idea to construction
Arckeo is the Executive Workshop through which Ferrara’s authorial direction is developed into a project. The workshop coordinates the architectural and technical expertise required, from defining spaces to preparing construction documentation, from obtaining approvals to supervising and coordinating construction, within the agreed scope of the commission.
In the transformation of a residence, this relationship brings together spatial quality, the building’s existing conditions, technical feasibility and construction, maintaining the architectural direction of the Work throughout its development.
Which architectural needs can Arckeo address in a residence in Rome?
The transformation of an apartment, penthouse or private residence may require a new spatial arrangement, a better relationship with natural light, or the integration of functions not originally accommodated by the property. The project begins with the client’s requirements and the building’s characteristics, considering architectural possibilities and technical conditions together.
Layout, light and connections to the outdoors
An apartment may have fragmented rooms, inefficient circulation or openings that fail to make the most of light and views. Architectural transformation redefines the relationships between spaces, the distinction between private and shared areas and, where present, the connection to terraces, courtyards and the urban landscape.
Existing features, art and ways of living
In Rome’s historic buildings, ceilings, walls, proportions and openings can be essential elements of a home’s identity. The project brings these enduring features into dialogue with contemporary requirements: living, working, receiving guests, housing a library or living alongside an art collection.
The aim is not to impose a style on the property, but to recognise its qualities and transform it through a coherent architectural project.
Which residential projects has Arckeo completed in Rome?
Columnae and Flat are two residential projects completed in Rome to designs by Fausto Ferrara. They document two different approaches to transforming domestic space: the dialogue between historic fabric and contemporary architecture, and the creation of spaces capable of changing in response to the needs of living.
Columnae: transforming a residence in Rome’s historic centre
Columnae is a 145 m² apartment in Rome’s monumental historic centre. The project preserves the identity of the historic interior while introducing a contemporary system of bookshelves, storage and integrated architectural elements. The transformation establishes a relationship between the building’s enduring features and new ways of living, without erasing the memory of the space.
Flat: flexibility and transformation of domestic space
Flat is an 85 m² apartment in Rome, conceived as an open and adaptable space. Sliding partitions, doors and bookcases allow the arrangement of the rooms to change according to different daily activities. Flexibility is not achieved through furniture alone, but becomes part of the home’s architectural organisation.
These two works demonstrate how residential transformation can emerge from different existing conditions and generate specific responses, without relying on a predetermined design scheme.
Before buying a residence in Rome: Transformative Due Diligence
Before buying an apartment, penthouse or residence in Rome, the question concerns not only the property’s value and regulatory compliance, but also its architectural potential: can it become the home the client wants?
DDT Arckeo: technical assessment and architectural potential
Arckeo’s Transformative Due Diligence (DDT) combines analysis of the property’s technical condition, building and planning status, and cadastral records with a preliminary assessment of its transformation potential. Depending on the scope of the commission, it examines available documentation, potential issues, constraints and the further investigations required before a purchase decision.
Understanding what the property can become
The architectural assessment considers layout, proportions, natural light, existing features and relationships between rooms, evaluating them against the future owner’s requirements. This moves beyond checking what currently exists towards understanding what could be achieved.
DDT helps the client approach the decision with greater awareness, distinguishing the possibilities identified from the checks still required. It does not replace the architectural project or any necessary approvals.
Who develops the architectural project and coordinates the construction of a residence in Rome?
The renovation and interior design of an apartment, penthouse or private residence require continuity between architectural conception, technical development and construction. Fausto Ferrara defines the project’s authorial direction; through its Executive Workshop, Arckeo organises the design and delivery process, maintaining coherence between the original idea and the subsequent operational stages.
From architectural design to construction documentation
The design process includes analysing the property, defining spaces, and studying light, materials and construction details. Arckeo develops the architectural solutions and coordinates the specialist expertise required, including structural and building services engineering, to translate the project into technical and construction documentation.
Approvals, site supervision and construction coordination
Where is Arckeo based, and does it work on residences in Rome?
Arckeo is based at Palazzo Lunense, in Viterbo’s historic centre. The choice of this location stems from Fausto Ferrara’s architectural research and the relationship he establishes between space, history and the conditions of his work. The atelier’s location does not define a geographical limit: Arckeo develops projects in Italy and abroad.
The Viterbo atelier and residential work in Rome
Rome is a recurring setting for the residential work of Fausto Ferrara and Arckeo. Projects such as Columnae, Flat, Spagna and Pantheon document different interventions in the city, from the transformation of historic apartments to the contemporary reconfiguration of living spaces.
Italian and international clients
Arckeo also works for clients living outside the city or abroad who own, or intend to purchase, a property in Rome. The design process is organised around the property’s characteristics, the client’s requirements and the technical expertise needed, keeping Ferrara’s authorial direction distinct from the workshop’s executive structure.
How can Arckeo be contacted for a residential project in Rome?
Arckeo can be contacted for a preliminary assessment of a property being considered for purchase in Rome, or for the architectural transformation of an apartment, penthouse or private residence. The initial discussion establishes the client’s requirements and identifies the appropriate route: Transformative Due Diligence (DDT), architectural design, or technical development and execution.
What information is needed to begin the discussion?
It is useful to provide the area of Rome, the property’s approximate floor area, its ownership status and the objectives of the intervention. Where available, floor plans, photographs, the desired timeframe and an indicative budget help establish a clearer understanding of the request.
For project enquiries and collaborations, please write to studio@arckeo.it or use the details provided on the Arckeo Contacts page.
Recent works
Every project begins with a workshop: objectives, constraints, and choices become a clear path to completion. Here's a selection of works at various scales.
