The Home of Elfi: a Kitchen That Dialogues with the City

FERRARA, Italy

Intro

In the historic center of Ferrara, an apartment overlooking the rooftops and brickwork of the city becomes the starting point for an interior design project deeply connected to its context. Here, light, color, and material engage in a dialogue with the existing architecture, creating a space that reflects the homeowner’s sensitivity and PRIMOPIANO’s tailored design approach.

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the brick façade of a Renaissance church, turning the view into a living element of the project. The city does not remain outside: it enters the domestic space, changes with the daylight, and becomes part of the everyday living experience.

The living area unfolds as a spacious, light-filled environment, defined by warm-toned parquet flooring that balances the strong chromatic presence of the exterior. At its center, the Doge glass table by Carlo Scarpa becomes the focal point of conviviality, allowing reflections and perspectives to pass through and enhancing the perception of space.
Completing the room, a full-height, custom-designed bookcase organizes books and objects while integrating a discreet home workspace. Its clean, rational presence highlights the selected palette: soft blues, natural greens, and the warm red of brick.

“We chose materials and colors that could dialogue with Ferrara: corten steel, dark wood, brick, and sky. I wanted a space that felt in continuity with the city.”

Elfi

#KitchenByYou, when the kitchen talks about you.

A kitchen designed for this space

The kitchen was designed starting from what already existed: an irregular structure, a central pillar, and unconventional proportions. Nothing was concealed. Every element was read, interpreted, and transformed into part of the overall design.

Material choices emerge from this dialogue with both architecture and city. Warm surfaces, deep pairings, and finishes capable of absorbing light and returning it with character define the space. Corten introduces an intense material presence, while dark wood builds balance and continuity with the flooring.

The snack counter, designed specifically for this project, becomes a key element of the composition. Not a simple work surface, but a fully bespoke solution: two connected, slightly offset levels, conceived to accompany different moments of the day and to naturally define the transition between kitchen and living area.

It is within this balance of space, material, and function that a truly custom-designed kitchen takes shape.