Built work by MArch Alumni: Thermae, by GMGA

DATE

20.01.2026

Rather than simply adapting a basement as just another space, the project focuses on spatial fluidity and on transforming a dark, fragmented place into a continuous environment, and has already been published in leading media such as Arquitectura Viva.

The key element of the apartment is a single feature: a continuous cocciopesto floor. This historic mortar, made of lime and ceramic fragments, provides strength and waterproofing while organising the entire home. Through subtle changes in level, the floor becomes a guiding thread that defines movement and use without the need for vertical partitions. Each shift in plane suggests a different function, allowing the house to be experienced as a fluid, connected space.

One of the most compelling aspects of Thermae is how the project reclaims a traditional material and places it at the centre of its architectural language. Cocciopesto is functional and sustainable, while also offering a warm texture that resonates with Rome’s historical memory. It is a clear example of how past and present can meet through thoughtful decisions about materiality and space.

Transitions between spaces are designed as arches, once again referencing Roman tradition, complemented by the treatment of certain ceilings, formed by thin masonry vaults that dialogue seamlessly with the wall finishes.

Behind this intervention is Giuseppe Maria Genco, the architect leading the project under the studio GMGA. Beyond being an emerging figure on the contemporary Italian scene, Giuseppe is also an alumnus of the MArch Valencia postgraduate school, class of 2022–2023, reflecting how MArch programmes support young talents in developing proposals that stand firmly between tradition and contemporaneity.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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