Casa “II Girasole”: The Relationship Between Housing and Nature

Casa “II Girasole” is a luxury apartment development that was completed in 1950 in the center of Rome, Italy. The architect, Luigi Moretti, is most notable for his design of the Watergate Complex and his contribution to the post modernist movement. The building stood out in the neighborhood that it was built in, as it is considered one of the earliest post modern buildings and starkly contrasts older buildings in form and materiality. Today, the surrounding buildings are more similar to Casa II Girasole, as it set a precedent for modern luxury housing that focused on the interior experience in relation to the outside world. 

Girasole means sunflower, which comes from the layout of the building and the windows. The building appears split in half from the front, south-facing facade, opening up the sides of the apartments, the entryway, and the interior hallway to natural lighting that would usually not have access to it. Either side of the building features big windows angled out towards the front of the building, to maximize sunlight and further connect the building to nature. The materiality of the building reinforces this aspect as well, as mixed materials tend to mirror natural combinations. 

The bottom floor is clad with travertine, a white stone that maintains a more natural formation. The upper floors are plastered, with the front facade being clad with small, white, glass tiles that have a slightly shining quality, emphasizing the relationship to the sun. The carved out entryway has green mosaic tiles, mirroring the natural environment surrounding it and creating a link between the interior and exterior. 

The building uses materiality, unique style, and form to stand out against more classic housing typologies. Connecting housing to nature by bringing in color and sunlight is important for individual wellbeing, but also demonstrates a turn to postmodernism and a housing shift. 

Works Cited

“Casa Del Girasole – Atlante Architettura Contemporanea.” Atlante Architettura Contemporanea, Direzione Generale Creativita Contemporanea, 2018, atlantearchitetturacontemporanea.cultura.gov.it/en/casa-del-girasole/.

Langdon, David. “Ad Classics: Casa ‘Il Girasole’ / Luigi Moretti.” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 7 Aug. 2014, www.archdaily.com/535511/ad-classics-casa-il-girasole-luigi-moretti.

Maglietta. “Palazzina IL Girasole.” ArchiDiAP, 2018, archidiap.com/opera/palazzina-il-girasole/.