A 150-square-metre private house in Rome, Italy, has been designed by local design studio Morq, whose understanding of the procedural and functional aspects of the project was very important during the design process. According to the design studio, these aspects are seen as key to solving problems in the practice of architecture.

Their ambition is to create architectural uniqueness and quality, regardless of the scale or scope of the project: designed Spaces that convey emotional messages. In Domus Ru-Romae Umbrarum, the studio tries to do this through phenomenological and spatial interpretations of the Roman city.

Domus Ru is a renovation and interior renovation of an apartment on top of an early 1900 building near Rome's historic center of Gianicolo. This great location offers an almost 360-degree panoramic view of Rome. Despite this view and outdoor space, the apartment takes on the character of being inside, the house does not have large openings, and the creation of new Windows is not allowed due to its location. Existing constraints define Morq's layout strategy, which "reads and interprets" the structure, orientation and limitations of the existing building.

This arrangement, which rotates around the building's public stairwell, also allows more public space to form a historical landscape with the existing openings. Because the scheme could not create new Windows, it could only be accommodated by maximising the use of natural light and intensity within the different Spaces, combined with the presence of the outdoors and the quality of the atmosphere: "dosing and filtering" in some areas, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere; "Directly and strongly" defines a hierarchy and emphasizes those Spaces that lead to the outside: "Suggested" indicates depth of space.

Rome and its surrounding landscape are a source of inspiration for the design studio. Its urban complexity has always led them to design interior layouts that provide change and bring spatial rhythm to the space: the complexity of the space can be experienced by walking through the city's alleys, streets and squares.

In this apartment, light is an active design issue: Morq chose natural material tones to shape the interior Spaces of this apartment, both to provide light and create a calm and vibrant atmosphere, yet separate from the hustle and bustle of Rome, but closely linked to its substance and hue.