black resin, glass, and steel shape alessandro isola’s automotive sanctuary in italy

Alessandro Isola translates speed into spatial experience

An existing building is transformed into a private space for displaying and experiencing an automotive collection in The Silence of Speed, a project by Alessandro Isola. Conceived as a multi-level environment for social gatherings, hospitality, and private enjoyment, the house explores how architecture can translate the spatial and perceptual qualities associated with speed. Rather than functioning as a conventional residence or showroom, the project combines domestic spaces with dedicated vehicle display areas, using material contrast, visual continuity, and carefully choreographed circulation to create a sequence of interconnected experiences.

The project investigates the relationship between movement, perception, and architecture. Drawing on the altered spatial awareness associated with high-speed travel, the interior is organized through a sequence of dark, enclosed spaces and transparent openings that challenge conventional perceptions of depth and stability. Black resin floors and walls, a folded black-metal staircase, and a transparent lift are combined with glazed floor openings, skylights, and large sliding glass doors, establishing visual connections across multiple levels. These contrasting conditions create moments where familiar spatial references are temporarily interrupted, encouraging occupants to become more aware of their movement through the building.

ground floor general view | all images by Thomas Pagani

automotive collection unfolds across linked living spaces

Designer Alessandro Isola has completely reconstructed the existing structure as a vertically organized environment in which vehicles gradually appear and disappear throughout the circulation sequence. Entry is through a sliding metal door at ground level, beyond which the building opens into a unified interior where the different floors remain visually connected. The ground floor introduces the automotive collection, while technical infrastructure is concealed within the basement. Above, the program expands into spaces for hospitality, dining, entertainment, and private gathering, allowing the cars to remain integrated within everyday activities rather than isolated in a conventional display environment.

A professional kitchen is partially revealed through a glazed opening, allowing food preparation to become part of the spatial experience. Adjacent to the terrace, a six-meter-long dining table fabricated from burnished brass-finished metal serves as the primary gathering element. Its profile references the silhouette of a Porsche while concealing its structural supports to create the impression of a floating object. A subtle Tangerine accent integrated within the dark metallic construction recalls one of Porsche’s historic color palettes from the 1960s and 1970s. Positioned among the displayed vehicles, the table accommodates dining, informal meetings, presentations, and social events.

first floor general view

Transparent lift and vehicle platform connect every level

The building is engineered with column-free structural spans, maintaining uninterrupted spatial continuity across each level. A transparent lift connects the floors, while a dedicated vehicle platform enables automobiles to move throughout the building. When aligned with the upper level, the platform becomes part of the living area, allowing vehicles to occupy the same space as the lounge, wine cellar, bar, and vinyl listening room while remaining visible from the roof garden. When lowered, the platform sits flush with the ground floor, maintaining the continuity of the interior surface.

The rooftop extends the program outdoors through a concealed kitchen integrated within a sliding metal enclosure. When opened, the enclosure reveals a cooking area finished in fossil stone; when closed, it functions as a standing counter. The kitchen is composed of a lower volume containing storage and seating, together with an upper metal element that encloses the cooking facilities. Vertical planting softens the architectural composition, while a large skylight visually links the roof garden with the lower levels, maintaining views toward the vehicle display below.

general view

Marble and dark surfaces frame the automotive collection

Material selection reinforces the project’s restrained architectural language. Dark surfaces define the primary spaces, while carefully positioned natural materials introduce moments of contrast. The guest bathroom is organized around a basin carved from a single block of split Palissandro marble, positioned within a monolithic black interior. The exposed texture and natural fracture of the stone preserve evidence of its geological origin, establishing a direct relationship between raw material and finished object. A ceiling-mounted spout completes the composition, reducing the space to a single sculptural focal point.

Throughout the project, the architecture is conceived as a framework for the collection rather than as its visual counterpart. The vehicles are presented as objects of engineering, craftsmanship, and personal significance, while the spatial sequence, material palette, and structural systems support their presence without competing for attention. The result is an environment where architecture, movement, and the experience of the automobile are integrated into a continuous spatial narrative.

roof garden view 

ground floor general view

general view

six-meter-long table crafted from burnished brass-finished metal

top floor

moving platform

project info:

name: The Silence of Speed – a House for a Private Car Collection
designer: Alessandro Isola | @alessandro_isola

location: Italy 

construction management: mzc+

main contractor: Impresa CEV S.p.A.

stone sink: Budri s.r.l.

metal fabrication: Gino Ceolin s.r.l., Lamp Arredo s.r.l.

professional kitchen: Gico s.r.l.

joinery, carpentry: Skillmax s.r.l.

photographer: Thomas Pagani | @thomaspagani

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom

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