A Masterpiece Above the Spanish Steps: Inside the Restoration of a Historic Roman Apartment

Main Facts

In one of the most iconic urban settings in Southern Europe, Dutch journalist Paola van Dam and her husband have completed a two-year restoration of a top-floor residential apartment overlooking Rome’s Piazza di Spagna. Situated directly above the Chanel flagship store and facing the historic Trinità dei Monti church, the property sits at the cultural and architectural crossroads of the Italian capital.

The couple acquired the property during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when Rome’s historic center experienced an unprecedented lull in tourist traffic and vehicular activity. Van Dam, seeking a urban weekend sanctuary to complement her primary residence in Tuscany, secured the residence after learning it was owned by a personal acquaintance of her mother-in-law.

To oversee the comprehensive overhaul, the owners commissioned renowned Rome-born architect and designer Achille Salvagni. Granting the designer complete artistic freedom, van Dam tasked Salvagni with converting a compartmentalized, historically altered floor plan into an open, fluid architectural environment. Over a rigorous two-year period, Salvagni re-engineered the interior spatial flow, integrated bespoke brass and bronze architectural elements, and paid homage to Rome’s Baroque tradition through modern, sculptural design language.

The completed residence merges classical Roman heritage—incorporating references to Papal iconography, local marble traditions, and neighboring Mannerist landmarks—with custom furniture, midcentury European design, and contemporary visual art.

Chronology of the Acquisition and Renovation

[Circa 2014]  --> Paola van Dam meets architect Achille Salvagni during a magazine interview.
[Early 2020]  --> Pandemic lockdowns begin; real estate agent notifies van Dam of available Piazza di Spagna property.
[Spring 2020] --> Van Dam and her husband purchase the top-floor apartment on the day of their initial viewing.
[Late 2020]   --> Achille Salvagni begins spatial analysis and interior architectural re-engineering.
[2020–2022]   --> Two-year construction phase proceeds under strict overnight delivery schedules (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM).
[Present Day] --> Transformation complete; residence serves as a tranquil, art-filled Roman sanctuary.

The Initial Encounter and Acquisition

The narrative of the apartment began nearly a decade prior to its purchase, when Paola van Dam interviewed Achille Salvagni for a Dutch design publication. That professional interaction laid the foundation for a long-standing family friendship, establishing a deep mutual trust in Salvagni’s architectural vision.

In early 2020, as lockdown measures transformed Rome’s usually bustling streets, van Dam received an unexpected call from her real estate agent. A top-floor apartment in Piazza di Spagna had entered the market. Upon arriving for a site visit, van Dam discovered that the residence belonged to a close friend of her mother-in-law—a home she had long revered from the street level. Recognizing the rarity of securing prime real estate overlooking the Spanish Steps, the couple finalized the purchase contract that same day.

Spatial Correction and Execution

Upon taking possession, Salvagni encountered a layout severely fragmented by centuries of piecemeal renovations. The space suffered from low visual ceilings, narrow corridors, and isolated rooms that failed to capitalize on the exterior vistas.

Between late 2020 and 2022, Salvagni executed a full architectural overhaul. The construction process presented severe logistical constraints due to the apartment’s location within a high-security, heavily pedestrianized historic zone (Zona a Traffico Limitato). To prevent urban disruption, all structural materials, custom furniture, and architectural bronzes had to be delivered to the site exclusively in two-hour windows between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

Supporting Architectural Data and Materials

The transformation relied on structural interventions, material curation, and historical references designed to amplify natural light and optimize flow.

Spatial Engineering and Lighting Strategy

To overcome modest ceiling heights in the main reception areas, Salvagni introduced continuous ceiling coves finished in subtle pale pink plaster. This gentle curve eliminates sharp, right-angled ceiling junctions, visually elevating the ceiling plane and diffusing ambient light softly across the buttery off-white walls.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         LIGHTING & FLOW STRATEGY                      |
|                                                                       |
|   [ Exterior Roman Light ]                                             |
|              |                                                        |
|              v                                                        |
|   ( Hammered Brass Window Frames ) --> Refracts and amplifies light   |
|              |                                                        |
|              v                                                        |
|   ( Pale Pink Cove Ceiling ) --------> Eliminates shadows; lifts space|
|              |                                                        |
|              v                                                        |
|   ( Reclaimed Oak Flooring ) --------> Grounds interior in warm tone  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Furniture Taxonomy and Fine Art Integration

Salvagni balanced custom commissions with notable 20th-century decorative art pieces and modern fine art:

• Living Room: Anchored by an "Alligator" curved sectional sofa designed by Salvagni, paired with a custom cocktail table and a vintage floor lamp by French midcentury master Pierre Guariche. The main wall displays a large-scale figurative painting by British contemporary artist Jack Penny.
• Dining Room: Centers on a bespoke round bronze table, surrounded by 1950s dining chairs designed by Italian architect Ico Parisi and upholstered in rich Dedar textiles. Overhead hangs Salvagni’s modern Brera chandelier.
• Primary Bedroom: Features a carved wall niche displaying an ancient Roman marble torso bust, illuminated by Salvagni’s slim Lancea floor lamp and paired with his Vittoria Mini armchair.

Official Responses and Design Insights

The Architect’s Perspective

Achille Salvagni framed his design intervention not as a decorative exercise, but as a rigorous spatial alignment rooted in historical architecture.

"I never decorate a space for the sake of decoration. For me, interior architecture is an expression of volumes, surfaces, and flow. There is always an element that breaks the rule that you would expect."
— Achille Salvagni, Architect and Designer

Salvagni noted that the design respects Rome’s native Baroque traditions through dramatic sequence, volumetric surprise, and optical trompe-l’œil techniques, rather than literal historical recreation. By utilizing traditional Roman artisans—such as the foundry responsible for Vatican bronze works—the modern intervention maintains an authentic physical connection to the city’s heritage.

The Homeowner’s Experience

Paola van Dam highlighted the emotional and functional success of the quiet sanctuary, emphasizing how the interior balances the grand energy of the city below.

"Piazza di Spagna was a dream location. I didn’t really think it was going to happen… It’s timeless. I don’t think I will ever get enough of it."
— Paola van Dam, Journalist and Homeowner

Commenting on the unique interactive quality of the living room art, van Dam observed:

"Guests seated across from the Jack Penny portrait often end up crossing their legs in the exact same manner as the figure depicted in the painting. It truly feels like one of the guests in the room."

Implications for Historic Preservation and High-End Architecture

Modern Residential Solutions in Heritage Contexts

The successful restoration of the Piazza di Spagna apartment offers an important case study for contemporary interior architecture within protected European urban centers.

1. Navigating Strict Urban Logistics: Renovation projects within UNESCO World Heritage zones require precise project management. The strict requirement for early-morning material transit highlights how urban policy shapes the timelines and budgets of high-end real estate developments in ancient cities.
2. Harmonizing Heritage and Modernity: Rather than relying on rigid historicism, contemporary luxury interiors increasingly favor "contextual modernism." Salvagni’s inclusion of subtle historical nods—such as the Barberini bee hardware and Casa Zuccari-inspired fireplace—demonstrates how ancient architectural narratives can be subtly translated into sleek modern design without compromising spatial quality.
3. Preserving Urban Real Estate Value: The conversion of fragmented historic layouts into cohesive, light-filled residences significantly enhances the long-term asset value of prime real estate. By creating high-performing, comfortable living spaces within centuries-old structures, architects ensure that historic city centers remain active, viable residential neighborhoods rather than turning exclusively into commercial or tourist districts.