This Genoan Penthouse Is a Curio Cabinet Inspired by Its Owners’ Travels

In the seaside neighborhood of Castelletto, a Genoan penthouse reflects the travels, memories, and objects collected by its owners over the course of their lives. “Entering this apartment was like listening to a story and watching it slowly turn into a home,” says architect Giulia Grillo, who helmed the apartment’s transformation. “The words of the clients were my starting point: every anecdote, every memory became a living element of the project.” Rather than simply reworking the interiors and materials, Grillo’s task was to give physical form to a lifetime of experiences.

Finding room for travel stories

The apartment looks out over the city, its slate roofs set against the glittering sea. The constantly changing panorama follows the rhythms set by the light. Here time seems to slow, the sounds of the city recede into the distance, and every window becomes a subtle threshold: between inside and outside, between domestic intimacy and urban life.

It was a perfect spot for the owners, who were not looking for a place to put down permanent roots. Instead, they wanted a space that reflected their lives, which are constantly in motion. Having spent years dividing their time between Venice, Germany, and England, they chose Genoa as a place to rest. Here, they wanted a pied-à-terre that is as much emotional as functional—a temporary refuge that reflects their identities.

In the living room, the walls are painted with Farrow & Ball Green Smoke in Modern Emulsion finish. The vintage sofa is upholstered in Lelièvre Velours Nabab velvet, and it sits atop an antique Bessarabian kilim rug (provenance London, 19th century).