Fifty years ago, Marina Bulgaris exquisite Rome apartment graced the pages of House Beautiful. The third-generation member of the famous Italian jewelry family lived in a triplex thats as impressive now as it was then. This historic residence dates back to the 13th century: It occupies the top of a once-neglected watchtower that was part of the Italian capitals defense system during the Middle Ages. Thanks to a renovation led by Gae Aulentione of a handful of well-known female architects in Italy during the postwar periodits a lesson in the beauty of simplicity with minimal furnishings that allow the exposed brick walls, barrel vaulted ceilings, and panoramic views to shine.Explore the original story from House Beautifuls January 1975 issue below. Related StoriesHigh in a TowerBy Susan Grant LewinSurrounded by a spectacular historic landscape, the recently completed Rome triplex apartment of Marina Bulgari, daughter of the internationally known antique jewelry dealer, is a sleek yet sober testament to the 20th century. The apartment occupies the top three floors of a long-neglected 13th-century watchtower, part of the Italian capitals defense system during the Middle Ages, that has now been restored by architects from the Passarelli firm in Rome. A stunning contrast to its ancient neighbors, the absolute simplicity of the Bulgari apartment was designed by one of Italys leading architects, Gae Aulenti. It reflects a philosophy of today, expressed here in the living room in rough exposed-brick walls, textured sisal carpets, simple white linen seating pieces and opal globe lamps. She purposely left the long window wall uncovered and omitted any superfluous decoration and paintings so as not to compete with the panoramic views of the Colosseum, the terraced garden of the palace of Tiberius on Palatine Hill, the Forum, the Capitol, and the baroque dome of San Luca and Martino created by Pietro da Cortone.The Bulgari apartment is connected to the terrace of the next house, with the living room on the lowest level in a new addition added to the original watchtower structure. A glass skylight in the ceiling runs along the length of one exposed brick wall of this addition to illuminate the room and also provide its inhabitants with an ever-changing spectacle of the wonderful and changeable light quality of the Roman skies.The same elegant simplicity that permeates the living room of the Bulgari apartment is reflected throughout the dining area, which is situated on the intermediate level, and the bedroom, which occupies the top level. Similarly, the same geometric counterpoint of rounds against squares is seen on all three floors, contributing to the serene unity of the spaces. Strong square shapes are utilized in the wood dining room table, the folding armchairs, the black steel frames on the windows, and even the cantilevered wood stair treads on the fireplace wall. The rounds come into play in the globe lamps, curved niches, the sweeping curve of the free-standing wardrobe in the bedroom, and the sculptured vaults. This purity of form underlies and accentuates the pristine quality of the former military function of the architecture. Here, one really does feel shielded by the visible thickness of the walls. Yet there is a strong feeling of the outdoors as well; the natural brick masonry and coarse mortar used for the restoration work are very much the materials of the street. Against these, the white-laminated surfaces of the free-standing wardrobe, dresser and the bookcase that furnish the bedroom are a perfect contrast. The narrow door in the unit leads to a tiny bathroom. The bed is nothing more than a foam rubber mattress covered with a fine linen spread, resting on a polished walnut base that contains drawers for extra storage. A sleek book box sits to one side. And because this space was once the main observation room in the tower, it has four windows and four views of Rome, each toward a cardinal direction of the compass. In this renovation, architect Aulenti proves herself once again the master strategist of 20th-century design.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.