paola lugli

This remodel exemplifies the concept of sustainability, through restoring the old, improving the insulation of the existing walls and roof, and adding a minimal square footage. The entire house now has 9-foot ceilings, the main staircase was moved from the center of the house to a stair tower addition in the back. The original house plan was changed to enhance the character of the exsting structure and to improve the layout. The original Arts and Craft house character was underlined  through the use  many contemporary design details. The house was lifted of three feet from its original foundation walls and a new front stair new front stair of poured concrete connected it to the existing porch. We also formed and added concrete retaining walls for an herb and vegetable garden adjacent to the stair. The new interior staircase was designed with typical structural gluelam beams. These beams were used as risers and stringhers and wecarefully designed a white steel rail to enphasize the new element. The leftover beams from the stairs were used to design the new square dining table and benches. The table “Quadrata” won an award at the Design Within Reach Modern+Design +Function competition. This project received an Award of Excellence at the  2015 Design Arlington awards. 

LINK TO : 2015 ARLINGTON DESIGN AWARDS

We added to this typical Arlington 1940’s house a new one story structure that hosts a new steel stair. We connected the four floors and opened the first floor plan configuration without modifying the footprint of the existing residence. The new metal roof enhances the existing brick colors and gives a new ”presence” to the house. A new modern fenestration was added to the first floor and to the side brick wall to take advantage of the surrounding views. All floors have been redesigned and the house has been upgraded to the new Energy Star standards, the project showed a 41% improvement before and after construction. With P2, photos by Chris Spielmann and P2

LINK TO: DWELL MAGAZINE

This project started as an historic renovation. It developed into a very unique example of adaptable reuse of the existing house without any square footage added to the footprint. In order to preserve its relationship with the existing con- text, we kept the existing scale, the entrance where the old porch used to be, and decided to reuse all the bricks that had to be removed. Where we lacked sufficient materials, we introduced parged walls. This budget-oriented solution creates a contextual presentation of old and new that fits the neighborhood seamlessly. The fenestration is modern, sharp and energy-efficient in juxtaposition with the very textured walls and the scale of the house. We also used typical siding material to connect the new walls to the roof. Three new bedrooms and a play room were added in the low- er level, combining the existing space and the old garage. The attic space has been remodeled and now looks over the living room space and is integrated into the social life of this family of four. The main floor has become an open space plan as serves as a piano Nobile. The existing building after a selective demolition it is a participating element in the design of the new architecture. with P2

Article from the Arlington Magazine

A modern interpretation of an Italian villa in Arlington through the use of ground face CMU, stucco, poured concrete forms wall and steel. The house sits in front of a park in Clarendon and is set back enough to provide a layer of privacy from the street. The stairs and porch create a sequence of spaces before actually getting to the front door. The interior has been carefully designed,

This project of an addition to a single family residence is in the Design Development phase.  It is situated in the historic neighborhood of LeDroit Park in Washington DC. This one story addition is supposed to have a modern flair and integrate, through massing and materials' use, to the existing fabric. We are following the Historic Preservation Guidelines from the DCRA office and we are starting the revision process through the community.

STAIR ADDITION AND CARPORT

After studying the space and the client’s needs, it became clear that all the residence needed was a small addition that could host a new, more comfortable staircase. The new layout reused the existing space in an open plan configuration. We proposed to move the staircase out of its original location and place it in the entry addition. This relatively small move, coupled with the demolition of a few walls, dramatically opened up the space. With P2

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE BOUTIQUES IN THE USA

Through a very flexible design, I helped the Italian company Piaggio, maker of the famous Vespa scooter return to the United States.
I tried to evoke the feelings of happiness and freedom when riding a Vespa, and sitting in a cafe’ in a piazza in Rome.
The new boutiques offered a new lifestyle.
A coffee shop was an integral part of being in the street of Rome. They showcased the famous scooter, featuring its new and interesting design, and also displayed fine Italian clothing and accessories on modular wall panels.
As the coffee shop is an integral part of the experience of being on the streets of Rome, the espresso bar was an important addition to the boutique.
The history of the Vespa was displayed in gallery fashion through old scooter models, parts, and photographs; the photos were carefully placed in the background of the branded panels.
The Vespa “ FUTURISTA” was featured in the main window display (a series of Vespas on a ramp in a dynamic arrangement) and a sleek single ramp showcased more recent models of scooters. Layering of the iconic images of famous actors on Vespas helped the visitor feel the exilaring experience of driving this motor scooter that is so embedded in the Italian culture.

LINK TO: VESPA USA 

This is the redesign of the existing facilities of Arlington Independent Media, following with acoustic design requirements for the sound room. New signage and entry de- sign. The new acoustic room is designed as a free standing element with no perpendicular angles following the rules of acoustics. Absorbent and reflective sound panels form an enveloping pattern from wall to ceiling, using the colors of the logo of Arlington Independent Media. A high tech table in metal mesh has been designed and fabricated by Tecno in Italy.  With P2

Photos by Chris Caravelli

Watch Audio room video : https://www.facebook.com/arlingtonmedia/videos/vb.139069762829976/913633408706937/?type=2&theater

PAST TURNED INTO SPACE

This project addresses the dilemma between demolition and preservation of old- er buildings that are not deemed historic. We used the Wilson school site in Rosslyn in light of the challenges involved in reusing an existing old structure and its transitional location within Arlington. The site hosts school buildings, a fire station, a park and is also part of a vibrant neighborhood with very practical requirements. We believe that the Wilson School building stands to respond to all of the interested parties as a pivotal structure. Our proposal preserves and exposes the school’s original Palladian proportions and establishes it as a new gateway, a gathering symbol for the community. It answers all of the community’s needs and blends new programmatic requirements to create both a civic and a commercial space. We started from the "remains" of the building and its potential influence as a cultural center outside of Arlington, and designed a gathering place, an old familiar place for some, a new vibrant center for others. Wilson Blvd threads Arlington's communities and offers a transition from high-rise, vertical spaces on the east side to the residential neighborhoods towards the west. The idea is to keep the whole site layered and framing its ever-changing views. A folding plane appears, envelopes the school and forms new public spaces. Thus doing, it frames all the other buildings on the site and surrounding blocks. "Framing" the old school building is a public act of protection and at the same time serves as the connecting gesture to the site requirements. Industrial scaffolding and moving LED images evoke the original building. The original stair, once in the middle of the building, is recreated in steel. With P2

ADDITION TO A SMALL COTTAGE HOUSE

The addition’s south-facing facade is simple and seamlessly integrated with planters that become part of the architecture and extend the yard to a visually compelling vertical plane. The exterior of the existing house is left standing and remains part of the neighborhood aesthetic, thus following one of the tenets of green architecture. The one-bedroom 720 SF interior is completely gutted from floor to roof, and converted to an open-plan area. This includes a new, larger kitchen and an entertainment area. A master suite and two additional bedrooms will be relocated inside the two-story modern addition. The connection between the two structures will be punctuated by a modern staircase and an interior garden wall. The site morphs around the addition; new curved walls and planters activate the space and respond to the architecture. This creates more opportunity for creative, green gardening in a very small corner lot. With P2

These are some examples of work done in the South of France, when I was a principal in the ATELIER D'ARCHITECTURE Pichon/LugliLeblanc. Various building renovations, new house design, apartment interior design and shops.
 

WINGS OF COURAGE

The Memorial experience is given by the act of walking to the "Sacred Ground" among translucent concrete “wings”. The visitor will perceive them from far away all grouped together, but as he approaches, he slowly becames able to read the engraved names of those who lost their lives on 9/11. Behind the wing lies a bench in the ground that invites him to sit and have a more profound experience of reflection. While he sits protected by the translucent concrete wing, the only other things that exist in this open Pennsylvania field are the sky, the grass, and the wind. The wings, standing strong in a “sea” of grass, symbolize the courage of the passengers of Flight 93. From each translucent concrete wing visitors have a view of the Sacred Ground, where the ground still bears the remains of the passengers. This serves as a reminder that this is the final resting place of 40 men and women who decided to make a difference against an act of terrorism. At night the translucent wings will glow as a standing memory of their sacrifice. Facilities, archives, the museum, and parking will be located underground in a zone called “the ridge”, which takes advantage of a view of the memorial through glass walls. 

Emilio Pucci was an Italian designer best known for his line of women’s clothes in the 1960s and 1970s featuring kaleiodoscopic patterns. Owning a set of vintage clothes from this designer, I had the idea to organize an exhibit at the Italian Embassy. For lack of funds the exhibit did not happen, but I had the chance to go to Florence and study the work of this designer in-depth. Pucci’s famous sense of color made his dresses more pieces of art than mere pat- terns on fabric. His immense culture and background made each of his collections unique and unforgettable. He fully stands as one of the best Italian designers of the 20th century. He embodies the Italian passion for craftnmanshipo and art . The exhibit had to develop according to a plan based on one of his famous pat- terns and was developed in 3D through a series of panels and mannequins in tenso-fabric structure.

One day a friend in Italy asked me to design a series of tables. "Quadrata" won a Design Within Reach Award.

JEWELRY WITH RECYCLED BICYCLE INNER TUBES AND LEATHER