Text and project by Interior Design Master in Florence Student Adeel Sait.

A contemporary apartment with amazing views of the Arno would be the perfect place for me to spend the rest of my life. I discovered this during my Interior Design Master in Florence. Indeed, Florence is an amazing city with beautiful architecture. Also, it has a perfect climate, and an amazing atmosphere.

On one hand, the historic architecture of the city is one of the main reasons to live in Florence. On the other side, also one of the main reasons I would not want to live here.

The small interiors with regular-sized windows and aged furniture and appliances are a few of the downsides to the historic element of the architecture.

The buildings are beautiful from the outside. Although, in a lot of cases, the interior is a whole different story. Nevertheless, I believe that this can be fixed through some structural and interior-related changes.

During the time spent in this city for the Interior Design Master in Florence, I have discovered that the river Arno is an amazing sight to look at. Particularly, the narrow river is one of the spaces in the city where you can appreciate the architecture from a distance. For example, I could never get tired of the beautiful sunsets and the reflections on the water. Moreover, the atmosphere around the river is also unique. Plenty of bars and restaurants, buzzing with people enjoying the company of the city. In fact, it is truly magical, and all of these elements are why I have decided to choose this location to design my space.

My comfort space, back home in India, has traditional architecture and contemporary interiors with many windows to allow a lot of natural light. In fact, there are many elements from my ‘comfort space’ that I would like to carry over into this design.

First of all, the main element that I believe would make an instant change is the use of large windows. These will not only help with the entry of light and air into the space. They will also create the perfect frame for the perfect view. Also, another key element that I would carry over would be an open-plan living and dining space.

Open plan living areas have many benefits, especially when the size of a space is quite small. In fact, by eliminating walls and doors we are not only maximizing the space in terms of size. We are also creating a space with a better circulation of air and entry of light. Moreover, an open-plan living area also encourages more social activity as people can be cooking and lounging but still interacting. This form of layout is also perfect for entertaining people. It will allow me to capture that social energy seen around the Arno.

The contemporary design style is my favourite and makes me feel good for multiple reasons. To start with, I like the contemporary design style because of the use of neutral colours and smooth lines. I also enjoy the pops of colour and great functionality. In fact, one of the main reasons my home in India is my ‘comfort space’ is due to the use of the contemporary style along with local traditional elements. For this reason, I would use the same philosophy in this new space that I would design.

Italy is known all over the world for its rich building materials and its sense of design. Hence I would like to incorporate the amazing wood and stone from Italy. In the interior of my space, I would use them in furniture and even in some finishings. Italy is also very well known for its furniture and kitchen brands. They provide contemporary design and modern usability while still maintaining some key traditional elements.

Lastly, another traditional element from Italian design that I would carry over into my interior is the use of geometric shapes. In fact, many of the amazing facades in the city use geometry in an invisible grid and also in the patterns of the façade. This makes them look as unique and special as they do. For this reason, I would make geometric shapes play a large role in defining my interior. For example, this can also be seen through the work of Elisa Ossino. To sum up, the use of geometric shapes brings order and simplicity into a space and makes the space feel easier to get comfortable in.

Although I have mentioned multiple ideas and elements, I would like to do this in a simple and clean way. I want the space to feel open and light, not heavy and cluttered. At the same time, I do not want the space to be empty and cold. Ideally, it should be relatively minimal but warm and comfortable. For example, as seen in the work of Vincent Van Duysen. He creates spaces that don’t have too many elements, only what is required. Still, he manages to make the space feel welcoming and warm. Likewise, I would like to follow this philosophy and make my space in Florence a place of comfort and tranquillity.

As I have mentioned, I would like this apartment to be located near the Arno river for a variety of reasons. More specifically, on Lungarno Soderini, near Ponte Alla Carraia.

I have chosen this location for a few reasons. Firstly, it is very close to the city center. At the same time, it is slightly disconnected from the highly populated tourist areas, such as Ponte Vecchio. Secondly, here is where I have many relaxing moments with friends. We spend time watching the late summer sunsets with some drinks and great music. Furthermore, I am also a huge fan of the views from this side of the river. Here you are able to see the ‘skyline of Florence’. Also, it has great views of the hills in the background. All these reasons make this location very special.

In conclusion, after my Interior Design Master in Florence, I am really looking forward to designing my ‘dream home’. I think that all of the elements I have mentioned before along with the great location will create a unique and special place. I want this design to reflect my personality and my approach to life as a young social human in a social city.

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