In Biella, The ‘Rose House’ of David Fox

In Biella, architect David Fox transformed an abandoned early-1920s factory into a family residence known as the Rose House.

The project began with the recovery of a former industrial volume whose plan suggests the wings of a butterfly. After the north side was excavated and reopened, the facade revealed layers of materials and time, which Fox preserved almost archaeologically rather than covering them over.

Several elements from the old factory were given new domestic roles: the fire tank became a pool, a former drain was reused as part of the grill, and a 1950s kitchen was turned into a wardrobe for the children.

Inside, a large floor-to-ceiling window brings daylight deep into the house. A long library, built from boards recovered on site, reinforces the dialogue between interior and exterior while also carrying a memory of Osvaldo Cavandoli’s La Linea.

The neutral treatment of walls, ceilings, and floors creates a calm container for art and everyday life. Fox’s approach balances reason and imagination, function and sensitivity, so that the house feels practical without losing its emotional charge.