aldilà office
The rehabilitation project is located on the ground floor of a building at the entrance of Ajaccio (South Corsica), dating from the early 20th century and unoccupied for more than 40 years. Originally, the space had significant advantages due to its large volumes and high ceilings. Its potential was noticeable despite being enclosed, oppressive, and dark.
The project's initial approach was to make these existing volumes more legible and to allow natural light to enter once again. Enhancing the legibility by removing existing partitions and reclaiming an open plan was the basis of the design, along with reopening the three old bays on the south façade to let in light and brighten the atmosphere. Only the original concrete column-and-beam structure of the building was preserved. I chose to keep it visible by sandblasting it, allowing a dialogue between the project and the original structure. The historical structure serves as a central and driving element of the project.
From this history, the relationships between the new spaces and the old elements emerge. The meeting room and technical areas fit between the columns, while the offices are simply positioned to define, frame, and prioritize the circulation that becomes more refined as one moves towards the private areas. The simple and stripped-down design aimed to highlight the spatial qualities of the place without competing with it.
The materials used are exclusively in their raw and natural state: metal, concrete, glass, and lime plaster. The tones of the metal, glass, and concrete harmonize and create an almost immaterial atmosphere. The choice of this timeless monochrome reinforces the solemn and strict nature of the profession of the owners, who are accountants.
The walls and ceilings, covered with chalk-white lime plaster, add texture and clarity to the project. The diffusion of natural light within the space was a crucial element. Each material chosen reflects and diffuses the light entering the space in its own way, creating reflections among the materials. All these elements contribute to the uniqueness and distinctiveness of this project, allowing subtle plays of shadow and light, bringing depth and generosity to each space.
Finally, the minimalism of the intervention contrasts with the roughness and traces of the past still visible on the preserved structural elements. I wanted to make the non-impactful, almost ephemeral, and easily modifiable nature of the project perceptible within this space. The contemporary details root the intervention in our era, and the carefully chosen furniture resonates with the raw materials of the project.
