Gironda

Jun 1

Written by Omar Dahabra

Location: Ravenna, Italy
Year: 2024
Architects: Giovanni Mecozzi Architetti
Photography by: Simone Bossi + Omar Sartor + Andrea Sestito

Built in the 15th century for the Venetian podestà Nicolò Giustinian, Casa Guaccimanni is an architectural jewel in Ravenna, Italy. Its history is closely tied to the city, passing through various noble families before becoming a residence for important figures of the Italian Risorgimento.

The building faces Via Diaz along the south side, featuring a rounded brick portal with decorative relief and a small balcony supported by Istrian stone brackets. The floor plan is tripartite, with a central corridor running through the ground and noble floors, flanked by two pairs of spacious rooms on both sides.

The interior courtyard, typical of courtyard houses, retains the characteristic Lombardesque double loggia and an external staircase made of brick and stone, reminiscent of the historic Venetian campielli. In addition to the staircase, another significant element of this large house is the presence of a tripartite loggia on the southern façade, featuring Renaissance-style capitals and a plaque dated 1468 in memory of Nicolò Giustinian. From the staircase, one reaches the noble floor, where a quadripartite loggia, the veranda, overlooks the garden and houses a precious 16th-century fresco inside.

The noble floor of the Palazzo still retains its original layout, which features the classic plan with a through hallway and a double pair of large rooms on both sides. The ceiling decorations are all likely from the 19th century. The only exception is the frescoes in the veranda, which were hidden beneath plaster for many years and uncovered during major restoration work carried out in the early 2000s. These frescoes date back to the 15th century.

The pair of rooms facing the street, Via Diaz, were the historical master bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. The other two rooms, facing south, were intended for a large living room with a fireplace (now the Golden Room) and the kitchen-dining area.

In particular, the current “Gold Room” was the historic living room of the Guaccimanni residence. It is the largest room in terms of dimensions and has a rectangular layout with two windows and a central fireplace. The kitchen, on the other hand, is located in the only room without painted ceilings, but instead features exposed wooden beams. During the restoration, the decision was made to place the kitchen in this room due to the lower quality of its ceilings, where the decorations had already been permanently lost. This space opens onto the veranda through two French doors and is served by a restroom with a small antechamber.

The veranda is the room facing south, with both the entrance hall and the kitchen opening onto it through various doors and windows. The veranda is situated above the loggia in the garden. During the restorations in the early 2000s, frescoes hidden beneath later 19th-century decorations were uncovered and expertly restored. As a result, the veranda now features frescoes dating back to the period when the building was originally constructed.

The entire flooring inside the building is a recent addition, dating back to the early 2000s restoration works. It is made of a fine and harmonious Venetian terrazzo, with colors that blend beautifully with the palace’s aesthetic. The design of the flooring in each room “reads” the respective space, featuring beveled and rounded corners that form a border or frame around the central section of the floor. Text description by the architects.

Source: www.giovannimecozzi.com
Communication partner and Press office: The Architecture Curator
Construction: Edilcostruzioni (Leoni Andrea)
Electrical systems: Elektra Service (Andrea Baiardi)
Mechanical and hydraulic systems: Nuova OLP
Custom furniture: Idea Legno (Paolo Berdondini)
Curtains and fabrics: Selezione Arredamenti, Ravenna
Lighting: Viabizzuno (via Tutto Luce, Cesena)
Resin coatings and flooring: Kerakoll
Rugs and carpeting: Centro Moquette, Rimini
Bathroom furnishings: Salaroli, Ravenna

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