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Casa Polly Is a Playful Fusion of Brutalism and Pop Art in Rome

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In the historic quarters of Rome’s Villa Fiorelli, where the architectural language speaks of bygone decades, Casa Polly emerges as a unique blend of brutalist austerity and pop exuberance. Spearheaded by 02A Studio, this innovative project transforms a 1960s apartment into a vibrant, family-friendly home that tells a story of contrasts and continuity.

Room with light blue walls, wooden floor, and steps leading to a round table. Green plants decorate the space. A large white pendant light hangs from the ceiling.

Once the creative domain of designer Valerio Ciampicacigli, the apartment bore the hallmarks of mid-century brutalism – raw concrete, open spaces, and an uncompromising focus on materiality. Today, 02A Studio architects Marco Rulli and Thomas Grossi reinterpret these features, infusing them with the lively palette and whimsical forms of pop art. The result is a home that dances between the stark and the playful, the rigid and the fluid.

A person is cooking in a colorful kitchen with plants and modern decor, including a green dining table, pink chairs, and a tall white sculpture.

Modern living room with striped walls, colorful art toys, a green swivel chair, and built-in shelves with books and plants.

According to Rulli, the aim was to “celebrate the home’s rich heritage while infusing it with the quirky, joyful aesthetic of its new owners, actress Martina Pinto and director Alessandro Poggi.” The project preserves the apartment’s robust character, yet softens its edges, creating an environment that is as functional as it is expressive.

Room with striped wall, large figurines on display shelves, books, a green chair with a colorful cushion, and a small plant.

Interior with colorful toys on shelves, a striped wall, a green chair, and a pink table with potted plants.

A living room featuring a pink sofa, a wavy-patterned rug, a round pink coffee table with plants and cups, and a wall art piece with various cartoon characters.

A modern living space with a hallway featuring a striped wall, art figures on display, and colorful furniture including a round chair and a low table.

Spanning 1,292 square feet, Casa Polly’s layout was thoughtfully reimagined to cater to the evolving needs of its occupants. The centerpiece of the home is an open-plan living area, defined by its eclectic mix of materials. Here, an exposed concrete pillar takes center stage, grounding the space with brutalist integrity. Surrounding it, a terrazzo floor shows through a delicate resin finish, while glossy tiles in the kitchen and wooden accents on a raised dining platform offer softer counterpoints.

Interior view of a modern kitchen with light yellow cabinets and white tiled walls. A concrete pillar stands in the center. A purple framed mirror and a small lamp on a table are visible.

A kitchen with yellow cabinets, white tiled walls, a black chalkboard, and shelves holding décor and plants. A concrete pillar with an exposed edge is visible on the left.

A person walking in a modern kitchen with tiled counters, a sink, shelves with various items, potted plants, and a natural wood partition.

A hallway with wide horizontal striped walls features a large black sculptural figure standing in the center. A plant is on the left, and shelves with books are on the right.

Each room introduces a new layer of personality. In the hallway, lilac stripes cloak hidden storage, transforming utility into art. Meanwhile, the primary bedroom embraces a cartoonish charm, with flowing lines, plush furnishings, and a dreamy light blue carpet. The ensuite bathroom further explores this theme, where pastel tones and undulating forms meet sleek, industrial partitions. “This project embodies a perfect fusion of two worlds,” says Marco Rulli, co-founder of the studio with Thomas Grossi. “I love homes with a story to tell, and this one – with its layered patterns and eccentric furnishings – brings together different identities in a way that feels both unexpected and harmonious.”

A bedroom features a white bed, a translucent side table with a lamp, a pink-framed mirror, orange curtains, and a wall with a purple and peach geometric pattern.

A bedroom with a bed, ruffled white bedding, pastel wavy-patterned wallpaper, and a round side table holding a small green-striped lamp and a pink cup.

A bedroom with a white bed, pink and yellow patterned accent wall, gold curtain, and eclectic wall art. A small pink mirror and lamp are beside the bed.

A view through a wavy green doorway shows a room with pastel pink tiles, a circular mirror, and a purple lamp. A framed picture hangs on the left wall.

View of a colorful bathroom with a green scalloped doorway. Features a pink vanity, round mirror, and purple pendant light. Walls and floor are light-colored with pink curtain accents.

The bathroom’s doorway is framed with a light green wavy border that leads into the light pink tiled space. A matching pink fluted vanity with a countertop wrapped in the same green as the doorway becomes the focal point seen from the bedroom. A contrasting pale yellow mirror introduces an unexpected new color that’s a welcome addition.

Colorful bathroom with a round mirror, pastel pink striped vanity, vessel sink, and green and pink decor elements.

Pastel-themed bathroom with a round mirror, a white vessel sink, and a pink-striped vanity. Green and pink curtains frame the space.

Room with a pastel color scheme, featuring a bed, a patterned accent wall, and a bathroom with pink tiles and a colorful shower curtain.

Shower with a pink tiled wall and a green and pink checkered shower curtain featuring floral patterns.

A bathroom with pink tiles, a shower with a floral curtain, and a toilet and bidet. A green frame separates the shower area, and a shelf with decor is above the toilet.

Though visually striking, Casa Polly is designed with family life at its core. The reconfiguration includes a child’s bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a dedicated laundry area – all integrated into the home’s playful aesthetic. Every corner of the apartment speaks to a careful balance between form and function, ensuring it remains both practical and delightful.

A pastel-themed children's room with a floor bed, soft toys, a colorful dresser, and wall shelves holding books and decor items. A pink rug with green patterns lies on the floor.

At the heart of Casa Polly’s transformation lies 02A Studio’s commitment to crafting homes that resonate deeply with their inhabitants. Founded a decade ago, the studio approaches each project as an intricate puzzle, where client aspirations, architectural constraints, and artistic vision converge. For Rulli and Grossi, architecture is more than the sum of its parts; it’s a medium for storytelling and a means to foster joy.

A minimalist bathroom with a walk-in shower, black and white grid tiles, a white shower curtain, a round basin on a tiled countertop, a wall mirror, and a purple robe hanging on the wall.

For more information on 02A Studio, visit o2a.it.

Photography by Giulia Natalia Comito.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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