CIVILIAN transformed a former embassy in Palazzo Capizucchi—a 16th-century ecclesiastical residence in the heart of Rome—into a new academic center for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). CIVILIAN reorganized the historic 10,000 sq ft space into a contemporary learning environment that advances the organization’s mission of providing meaningful study-abroad experiences.
Palazzo Capizucchi, a centuries-old palazzo in the historic center of Rome, was identified as a unique opportunity to enhance the experience of international students arriving in the city. CIVILIAN was faced with the challenge of incorporating the building’s rich history into modern educational facilities. To do so, CIVILIAN leveraged Rome’s unique concentration of traditional craft skills. Working closely with local artisans, we restored the building’s historic elements, including its baroque frescoes, ornate wood-carved ceilings, hand-laid terrazzo floors, crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, and door frames. These historic elements were combined with locally-crafted modern furniture to brighten and update the space.
Throughout, the project’s sensibility pays homage both to the attenuated language of Baroque interior ornamentation and the asymmetrical geometries of 1950s Italian design. The result is a space where the program, architecture, and interior design coincide to offer study-abroad students a singular experience that is deeply rooted in the culture and history of Rome.
CIVILIAN transformed a former embassy in Palazzo Capizucchi—a 16th-century ecclesiastical residence in the heart of Rome—into a new academic center for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). CIVILIAN reorganized the historic 10,000 sq ft space into a contemporary learning environment that advances the organization’s mission of providing meaningful study-abroad experiences.
Palazzo Capizucchi, a centuries-old palazzo in the historic center of Rome, was identified as a unique opportunity to enhance the experience of international students arriving in the city. CIVILIAN was faced with the challenge of incorporating the building’s rich history into modern educational facilities. To do so, CIVILIAN leveraged Rome’s unique concentration of traditional craft skills. Working closely with local artisans, we restored the building’s historic elements, including its baroque frescoes, ornate wood-carved ceilings, hand-laid terrazzo floors, crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, and door frames. These historic elements were combined with locally-crafted modern furniture to brighten and update the space.
Throughout, the project’s sensibility pays homage both to the attenuated language of Baroque interior ornamentation and the asymmetrical geometries of 1950s Italian design. The result is a space where the program, architecture, and interior design coincide to offer study-abroad students a singular experience that is deeply rooted in the culture and history of Rome.