Occupying what was once a count’s stables and service rooms, this Turin apartment is now a contemporary family home
LIVING ROOM
Throughout the apartment, industrial touches, such as cement and laminates, are blended with more sophisticated and elegant materials, like walnut and Calacatta marble, to reflect the rich and varied history of the property.
palazzo dei Conti Callori, a historic palace in the old centre of Turin, is home to minimalist architect Fabio Fantolino. He shares the space with his wife, Laura, and their two daughters, Bianca and Letizia. And, despite the aristocratic roots of the building, the actual view from their living room is somewhat deceptive: the raw, almost-industrial architecture, modernist green garden and exposed bricks seen through the f loor-toceiling glass windows could almost transport you to any inner city. But look more closely and you will spot an olive tree and a laurel hedge, as well as a brick wall dating back to the mid- 19th century. ‘In fact, we are in the wing of a noble building not far from the Giuseppe Verdi music conservatory,’ says Fabio.
The original palazzo was designed by Alessandro A ntonelli, the architect behind the Mole A ntonelliana, the landmark building, completed in 1889, that has become a symbol of the city of Turin. Fabio has made his home, however, in what would once have been considered the slightly less auspicious part of the property. ‘Our apartment occupies most of the service rooms on the ground f loor, built as an extension in the 1930s,’ he explains. His particular 300 square metres are distributed around a large open patio, which once housed the stables. ‘Before we moved in, these were the offices of Cassa Edile (the Special Construction Workers’ Fund),’ he explains. ‘The layout was a disaster with the spaces divided by plexiglass walls.’ So, with Fabio at the reins, the couple ripped out everything and, when it was clear, his project could begin.
Fabio decided to design anew layout, highlighting the garden as the main attraction – simply because it’s such a rarity in the centre of Turin. ‘It was my starting point,’ he says. ‘I liked the idea that it was accessible from all the rooms and could also become an extra room during the summer.’ The large living room and dining area overlooks the garden from one
