Designed by Giancarlo De Carlo in the 1970s as part of the Collegio del Colle in Urbino, Il Serpentine was conceived as an innovative, human-centered student housing project. However, its rigid spatial sequencing and harsh  thresholds have led to fragmentation, limiting social interaction and adaptability. To address this, we propose a series of subtle interventions that respect De Carlo’s architecture while redefining the relationship between public and private space. The concept is to regard furniture as a foundational element of infrastructure.

A generous opening in the facade brings natural light into the communal area and strengthens the connection between inside and outside. A minimally invasive kitchen extension integrates into the communal core, improving functionality without compromising the original design. Bedrooms gain flexibility through mirrored central closets and sliding doors, enabling spatial connections and shared workspaces. The bathroom is reconfigured into stacked capsules, freeing space for a communal bench beneath the skylights that serves as a shared dining and social area.

Once rigidly assigned, the spaces become open to reinterpretation. Flexible layouts and adaptive elements allow them to shift between private and collective, working and living. Acknowledging the short-term nature of student residence, the design supports temporary lifestyles while fostering both individuality and community. Through these interventions, Il Serpentine retains its architectural integrity while becoming a more connected and socially engaging living environment.