Several years of living in a sleek if nondescript penthouse in the heart of Bologna, Italy, left architect Laura Gasparini and her family desiring a home with more room and character. Their 1,600-squarefoot apartment was sufficient for everyday life, but Gasparini says she, her husband, Maurizio, and their son, Rocco, “needed more space and a more prestigious house for receiving guests.”
Though her work is decidedly contemporary, Gasparini has always been drawn to older buildings. So when she and Maurizio started researching properties around Bologna, historic homes made the top of the list. “I love modern buildings, but they must be special,” she explains. “They don’t always transmit the same emotions as historic ones.”
After viewing a handful of
