Pied-à-terre of Light
A luminous retreat in the heart of Venice gets a thoughtful makeover, where minimal gestures meet panoramic beauty.
Nestled atop Palazzo Zorzi Bon, a striking 14th-century Gothic palace just steps from Santa Maria Formosa and Carlo Scarpa’s seminal work at the Querini Stampalia Foundation, this petite Venetian apartment has been reimagined as a refined, light-filled pied-à-terre.
The historic building, with its exposed brick façade, Istrian stone cornices, and elegant pointed-arch pentafora, was expanded in the 1930s with a fourth-floor elevation. This modest addition, set high above the Venetian rooftops, offers sweeping 360-degree views of the city—an urban belvedere like few others.
The design intervention by Depaolidefranceschibaldan focuses on this unique elevation. Following a general renovation by architect Marianicola Parenti, the studio was commissioned to transform the top-floor unit into a space that’s both welcoming and multifunctional—ideal for the owners and their guests.
Given the lightweight structure of the elevation, the architects were limited in how radically they could alter the internal volumes. Instead of major structural changes, the approach was one of architectural acupuncture: careful, precise adjustments that enhance rather than overwhelm.
At the heart of the project lies a desire to amplify natural light and frame the surrounding vistas. Each window—placed on all four sides—acts like a vedutista painting, offering curated glimpses of Venice.
The design ethos is minimalist and essential, allowing the approximately 100-square-meter apartment to breathe. Custom furnishings, refined design classics, and a lively yet balanced color palette bring warmth and identity to the interiors. The chromatic language draws inspiration from Venice itself and from Carlo Scarpa’s famed Chinese vase series. Most surfaces are finished in matte linoleum, selected for its ability to absorb light and soften reflections, ensuring the sunlight remains the true protagonist.
Visitors enter through a vestibule that opens into the main living space, anchored by a compact kitchen and a dining area. Exposed larch beams—restored to their natural elegance—guide the eye along the central axis of the home.
In the kitchen, an artwork by Luisa Pastor sets the tone above an island composed of a Carrara marble countertop and a deep blue USM module. The dining room—set between two columns—features a raised sky-blue platform that elevates both the floor and the view. Here, a custom-designed table with a glossy black base and a red top evokes a Venetian gondola, appearing to float above the blue “canal” of the platform.
Lighting elements include Charlotte Perriand’s Voilant sconces in bright yellow and Le Corbusier’s Nemo Marseille fixtures in light grey—subtle nods to 20th-century design icons.
The adjacent living room is anchored by a modular sofa in charcoal and dove gray tones, complemented by black linoleum and plywood bookshelves. A green-copper sculpture by Arcangelo Sassolino aligns with the outline of San Marco’s bell tower, perfectly framed in the distance. Above, a metal staircase leads to a mezzanine, a versatile space that functions as both playroom and guest room.
The apartment’s two bedrooms, stripped down to essentials, are concealed behind sliding doors in pale blue-grey. At the corridor’s end lies a compact yet imaginative bathroom, where a mirrored “window” above the sink offers a playful choice: admire your reflection when closed, or open it to reveal the Venetian skyline.
Finally, the iroko wood flooring, laid in an innovative twin-pattern design, adds an understated layer of warmth—one more gesture in a space where restraint, craftsmanship, and light coexist in delicate harmony.
