Madrid-based El Departamento has unveiled the new Nude Project space in the historic heart of Rome. Led by Marina Martín and Alberto Eltini, the studio designed the 1,076-square-foot flagship store as a spatial reimagination of a private Italian mansion.
La dolce villa
To conceptualize the new store, El Departamento evolved the classic philosophy of the Italian dolce vita into the concept of “la dolce villa.” Eschewing mere nostalgia, the space explores the Italian attitude towards life by evoking the atmosphere of a private mansion infused with a hedonistic and irreverent undertone.
The interior architecture unfolds through a sequential layout that divides the space into distinct rooms, beginning in a grand entrance portico called Il Cortile (the Courtyard), which serves as a transition zone leading into La Stanza del Potere (the Room of Power) and the Camera delle Meraviglie (the Chamber of Wonders). Conceived as the villa’s main study, this checkout area contrasts the sobriety of dark wood with a curated collection of art objects.
Next, visitors step into La Veranda and the Sala da Pranzo (the Dining Room), the residence’s leisure lounge, which houses gaming tables and an exclusive wine experience, before the journey culminates in the Spogliatoio (the Dressing Room).
Material duality at the Nude Project
The project’s material and chromatic palette draws inspiration from an Italian summer, where turquoise and blue hues, rendered in microcement and lacquers, coexist with honed limestone and the warmth of walnut. A theatrical climax materializes within La Veranda and the Sala da Pranzo.
Here, the space is crowned by an imposing vault clad in mirror mosaic, multiplying reflections like a disco ball. Also integrated into this area is a custom-designed wine cellar that allows clients to enjoy a glass of wine via a hidden NFC system.
Art and sculptural details
True to Nude Project’s motto, “By Artists, For Artists,” the space acts as a canvas for artistic expression. Artist and designer Mago Dovjenko embedded his visual language directly onto the store’s walls through handpainted frescoes, which are paired with artworks by Román de Castro and Iván Floro.
The store also operates as a hybrid environment where architecture serves as a backdrop for bespoke furniture design. The brand’s symbolism, for instance, takes shape through giant red cherries suspended from the ceiling and an oversized wine bottle occupying the storefront window.
Bespoke pieces designed by El Departamento include a checkout counter that integrates a large speaker, a beige and brown lacquered poker table, and a turquoise-lacquered high backgammon table.
