A historic chapel near Pisa, Italy, has been transformed into a vibrant creative space called Pailunga, offering artist residencies with a focus on musicians. The renovation project, completed by Florence-based architecture firm Atelier Vago, features bold pops of bright blue and yellow that breathe new life into the deconsecrated chapel located in the countryside surrounding the village of Fauglia.
The project represents the first completed work by Atelier Vago, led by architects Carlotta Di Sandro and Cecilia Marcheschi. They were commissioned by composer and psychologist Giulio Fagiolini, who envisioned restoring "a spiritual vocation" to the near-ruined structure. The chapel forms part of a historic farming estate once owned by the distinguished D'Achiardi family.
"The little church once served as the liturgical and social center for the surrounding community," explained Di Sandro and Marcheschi. "Every Sunday, mass was celebrated here by the Salesians, aided by the wide, shaded garden outside, where worshippers could gather and linger." The architects worked within a tight budget to plan a renovation that restored the facade while completely overhauling the interior to function as both a live/work space and venue for intimate concerts.
The designers' strategic use of color created character despite minimal interventions. "The color palette lends the interiors a pop character, softening spaces that might otherwise feel austere," said the duo. "The chromatic choices also reflect the intention to create a sharp contrast between the new insertions and the existing structure." The blue tone was specifically chosen to complement the remaining traces of a fresco on the chapel's apse.
Among the new additions is a striking folded steel staircase that connects the ground floor with a recently added wooden mezzanine, which now serves as a bedroom. However, the main staircase doesn't extend all the way to the ground level. Atelier Vago designed an additional four-step staircase to complete the descent, with this element being mobile so it can be moved out of the way during performances.
The blue color scheme extends throughout various elements, including a custom-made balustrade that echoes the building's curved geometries and the frame of the rose window in the bedroom space. Meanwhile, yellow was chosen for door frames, bathroom fittings, and various furniture elements, referencing the building's facade color. The designers describe their approach as "embracing the scars of the past and weaving them into new architectural gestures."
"The architectural project is guided by the principle of enhancing what remains and preserving historical traces," they explained. "A house for art, anchored in the present yet projected into a timeless dimension, Pailunga is not merely to be considered a former place of worship adapted for residential and artistic use, but a stage for human creativity, capable of nourishing the soul and revealing the sacred within the everyday."
The building welcomed its first resident, cellist Antonio Cortesi, in September. He was given access to recording equipment, guitars, and a grand piano, with Fagiolini producing a recording of the musical results. Pailunga also serves as a part-time home and workspace for Fagiolini himself, fulfilling his vision of creating a space where artistic creativity can flourish within a historically significant setting.
