After over 15 years of work, in Milan and around the world, the architect David Cerini, project manager of the Lissoni Associati, is back in his hometown, Mantova, to immerse yourself in this project in the historic center. Come up with a work of years to get permission of the Superintendent, the intervention involved the recovery and restoration of a sixteenth century building, in S. Leonardo district, where the mapping testifies buildings already in the twelfth century. This time, David had the opportunity to deepen the cultural and emotional bond with the owners, Gianluca and Constanza, and interpret the needs of their children, Louis and White.

"An obstacle course," says David, "the ancient surfaces showed different trends, not rectifiable by the presence of important frescoes, restored by Isa Spain and Alice Bastianelli. The structure is deep, the light that enters through small windows barely reaches the center of the dwelling. Now, captured by the new windows in single frame, stroking the frescoed walls, painted a soft gray to cancel the imperfections and, shooting from the roof, filter the overhead light in the bathroom creating theatrical effects. "

The Compass Box Flos lighting system, wenge wood, blends into the color of the coffered ceilings, the ground floor of the Wan Spot always Flos on white lime painted beams create the atmosphere of a loft, while in the bedrooms thin wall of Davide Groppi illuminate the ceiling. The vertical connections of the three floors, from the living room-gym overlooking the garden on the main floor with living room and kitchen, up to the attic sleeping area, have been complicated by the little space left by the original beams. The white metal staircase covered by a thread of light that comes from the handrail illuminates the surrounding space in the center of the building, a sculpture both poetic and powerful.

"It was literally a work executed by hand. After a moment of distrust of Milan, in front of the dialect of Mantua they dusted off for the occasion all the workers have fielded knowledge and passion for the job. Each choice was shared with Gianluca, entrepreneur passionate about photography, and especially with Constanza, Argentine globetrotter with a background in fashion and design. "