Golden Box
Golden Box is an architecture nestled within another, albeit slightly larger, architecture. Inspired by the experimental living concepts of some modernist masters, this new architectural entity —a square- based parallelepiped measuring five meters on each side— occupies almost the entirety of a small apartment’s surface area, freed from its internal partitions. The envelope is entirely constructed with brass panels that occasionally give way to areas richly clad in imperial green marble slabs, thus showcasing the preciousness of its contents.
The integration of Golden Box within the existing enclosing structure highlights a deliberate irregularity: rather than aligning with the perimeter walls or decorative elements of the ceiling, its placement fosters a series of misalignments and opportunities, generating a play of spatial expansions and moments of surprise in
the intermediate spaces. This intentional deviation encourages one to circumnavigate of the object, seeking solace in the sole side where a condition of parallelism is achieved—namely, adjacent to the kitchen, where two windows open onto a balcony overlooking the main street.
Meticulously crafted with precision, the work capitalizes on the macroscopic discrepancy of its placement. Its deliberate out-of-scale dimensions and misalignments serve as the catalyst for a broader reflection on the nature of architectural design.
For AMAA, the relationship with history is intense yet unencumbered, grounded in a relentless quest for new design opportunities and a conscious dismantling of compositional dogmas. Golden Box is indeed a unique creation, crafted with artisanal techniques based on a bespoke design. Its realization, punctuated by constant refinement, spanned approximately three years.
Golden Box tells the story of a golden object nestled within a small apartment from the early 1900s, its richness emanating from the original Palladiana terrazzo floor. The new addition stems from a reflection on the concept of dwelling, with the intent to abolish the corridor, a connective yet emotionally barren space typical of traditional homes built between the 1960s and 1980s.
The clients’ request was for a petit refuge — a weekend getaway to detach from the daily frenzy, albeit just a few kilometers from their current residence. With passion and foresight, they supported and encouraged the exploration in various spatial, conceptual, and material directions.
The design process draws from the past experiences of Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte Perriand and their small living devices — precious episodes meticulously studied and refined. Liberating the space from existing partitions and restoring the Palladian floor allowed for the insertion of a single volume (measuring 5 x 5 meters): a sort of treasure chest containing all the necessary life functions, including the kitchen, sleeping area, bathroom, and relaxation space.
Golden Box is oriented to create tensions with the ceiling decoration and the irregular geometry of the existing walls. In an attempt to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, the new volume aligns with Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, a thoroughfare traversing the city, while the only window opening onto the east façade frames the adjacent Mattarello Courtyard. Access to this ‘secret garden’ is extended to the interior of the bathroom, thanks to a curved glass positioned at the corner opposing the window. Specially crafted frames and elements hide joints and attachments. The preciousness of the device lies in AMAA’s research on materials, particularly brass. Through collaboration with De Castelli, a specific method of etching and fixing the surface of the slabs was developed, echoing the outcome already present on the back side of the company’s processed slabs. Thus, a single precious material envelops the volume, concealing and revealing the interior spaces as needed: everything unfolds within the depths of the treasure chest.
The only other color — green: a clear reference to the copper roofing of the church designed by Giovanni Michelucci in Arzignano is here expressed with some material variations: imperial green marble in the bathroom and kitchen, lacquered wood and velvet.
The rapid concept phase gave way to a long and meticulous process of design development and refinement of construction details: the realization of mockups and the construction spanned nearly three years of work on site, carried out through intense collaboration between the architects and the local craftsmen, deeply rooted in tradition but still capable of inventing and transforming.
