Life as a blank canvas

By Editorial Staff - 20 April 2026

Overlooking the Adriatic sea from the foothills between Cesena and Rimini, the ancient town of Longiano provides the backdrop for Casa nel Borgo. Tucked away in a quiet alley, this once-abandoned ruin has been reborn as a contemporary residence by tissellistudioarchitetti. The design centers on a minimalist dialogue between white and mirrored surfaces, curated artworks, and a selection of handcrafted design pieces. For the clients, a family with roots in both New York and Italy, the house serves as a second home. The residence marks a convergence of the owners’ tastes
(a pair of art collectors), the studio’s distinct esthetic, and the project’s historic and cultural context.

Casa nel Borgo In cucina trova posto il tavolo Saarinen di Knoll. La collezione Pedestal (1957) riflette l’approccio purista di Eero Saarinen al design: le linee curve e geometriche, insieme alla base a piedistallo che favorisce libertà visiva, si inseriscono con coerenza nella ricerca formale del progetto. © Angelo Ciccolo, courtesy tissellistudioarchitetti

In the dense grid of stone houses – a hallmark of the town’s medieval layout – spatial constraints are reimagined as opportunities, prompting a range of versatile formal and functional strategies. The design uses white as its starting point, which the architects evocatively liken to a blank canvas: “The canvas is the entire house, a seamless white resin shell that wraps around floors, walls, and ceilings”. Reflecting and diffusing natural light, the white palette is punctuated by strategically placed accents of vibrant "p2">The orthogonal lines of the kitchen, ceiling beams, stairs, and mirrors engage with the fluid, curved lines of the arched opening between the living area and kitchen, and the recurring circular motifs found in rugs, light fixtures, and tables. Mirrors become the primary medium of this exploration, serving not only as functional tools to enhance the perception of space – a reference to the mirrored studios of the daughter’s dance background – but as esthetic devices. Much like a Cubist study, they offer a multitude of visual and conceptual perspectives. The mirrored cabinet doors fragment the interior as they swing open and closed, multiplying viewpoints and shifting perspectives. Spatial flexibility extends beyond the visual: on the upper floor, a draped curtain separates the bedroom from the corridor, making it possible to regulate privacy levels as needed.

The residence spans two levels – separating the living and sleeping quarters – with each floor comprising two distinct volumes and offering direct exterior access.

The studio’s intervention reinterprets the building’s historical heritage with elegance and restraint. Reflecting the owners’ identities, this formal simplicity provides a quiet backdrop that gradually reveals the project’s layered spatial, esthetic, and emotional dimensions.

Casa nel Borgo | The kitchen features the Saarinen Table, manufactured by Knoll. Part of the Pedestal collection (1957), the design embodies Eero Saarinen’s purist approach: its curved lines and single-stem base offering a sense of visual openness that aligns with the project’s formal language. © Angelo Ciccolo, courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

Casa nel Borgo | © Angelo Ciccolo, courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

Casa nel Borgo | On the upper floor, the sleeping quarters prioritize adaptability: a draped curtain allows for a seamless modulation of the space. © Angelo Ciccolo, courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

Casa nel Borgo | The bathroom features Via Tortona fixtures by Gessi. The matte black finish provides a bold accent, while their essential, delicate forms mirror the project’s geometric purity, serving as elegant functional details. © Angelo Ciccolo, courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

Casa nel Borgo | A bedroom window frames the surrounding rooftops, revealing a fertile contrast between the site’s history and a reflection on contemporary living. © Marcin Dworzynski, courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

Location: Longiano, Forlì-Cesena, Italy
Completion: 2025
Gross Floor Area: 130 m²
Architect and Interior Designer: tissellistudioarchitetti
Main Contractor: Edilzeta
Structural Consultant: Studio Cober

Unless otherwise indicated, photography: Angelo Ciccolo
All images courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti

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