Studio Kami Architects, founded by architects Emanuele Custo and Emanuele Mantrici, with Giovanni B. Porzio joining in 2009, is distinguished by its innovative vision in the revitalization of historic architecture. With an approach that blends memory and contemporaneity, the team tackles each project with a strong sense of urban, social, and cultural responsibility. The repurposing of the historic Magazzini MAS in the Esquilino district represents one of their most ambitious initiatives.
The project envisions the transformation of the building into a center of excellence for the Accademia di Costume e Moda, a leading institution in fashion education. This intervention is not merely an architectural operation but acts as a catalyst for a broader process of urban, cultural, and social regeneration in one of Rome’s most emblematic areas.
The redevelopment of Magazzini MAS stands out for its commitment to merging the site’s historical identity with an innovative design approach, capable of meeting the contemporary needs of the city and its inhabitants. Studio Kami Architects views urban regeneration as a process of restoring value and vitality to the existing architectural heritage, enhancing the quality of urban life through a sustainable and inclusive vision.
With its new headquarters, the Accademia di Costume e Moda will serve as a central hub for creativity and innovation, strengthening the economic and cultural fabric of the neighborhood. The presence of the institution will contribute to a renewed identity for Esquilino, transforming it into a key reference point for fashion education and fostering new synergies between education, culture, and industry.
With a total investment of 20 million euros, the project represents a significant opportunity for the district’s revitalization. The building’s renovation includes the creation of digitized classrooms, creative laboratories, libraries, and multifunctional terraces, providing students with a cutting-edge learning environment. Additionally, the intervention serves as a model of sustainable urban development, emphasizing the synergy between technological innovation and the preservation of historical identity.
The design concept of Studio Kami Architects is rooted in the principle of genius loci, respecting the essence and memory of the place. A historical analysis of the site identified three key layers of significance that guided the design choices. Since Roman times, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II has been a focal point of imperial life, with the presence of the Horti Lamiani. The project reinterprets this historical memory by enhancing the square as a central element of the urban fabric. The major 19th-century renovation of the piazza and the construction of surrounding buildings defined Esquilino’s distinctive architectural character. The project engages in a dialogue with this heritage, respecting its aesthetic and structural principles. Additionally, the Magazzini MAS, which remained active until the 1990s, was a landmark of local commerce. The project acknowledges and enhances this historical stratification, breathing new life into the building while preserving its original function.
The design approach is based on a synthesis between the typological characteristics of the existing building and a contemporary language marked by lightness and simplicity of form. The interior space is structured through multiple heights, balconies, and glass-walled classrooms, while the rooftop features a panoramic café conceived as a shaded glass pavilion.
A key element of the intervention is the application of the freezing technique, which highlights and preserves the original structural components, making visible the material stratifications accumulated over time. The late 19th-century Art Nouveau ornaments intertwine with the reinforced concrete structures added in later periods and the most recent steel integrations, creating an architectural narrative in which each era finds its own expression. The *box in the box* principle encapsulates the design concept: lightweight and transparent volumes are inserted within the original framework, redefining the spaces through a continuous dialogue between history and innovation.
Studio Kami Architects’ project serves as a manifesto of contemporary architecture that respects the past while being oriented toward innovation and collective well-being. With its new home in the Magazzini MAS, the Accademia di Costume e Moda becomes not only a center of excellence for education but also a model of urban regeneration that restores historical, cultural, and environmental value to Esquilino.
CREDITS
Project: Accademia di Costume e Moda
Studio: Kami Architects
Location: Rome, Italy
Year: 2025
