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Marco Rulli is an architect and co-founder of 02A Studio, a Rome-based practice he runs with Thomas Grossi. Specialising in residential interiors, the studio approaches the home as more than a physical space — seeing it instead as a reflection of the desires, aspirations and everyday lives of the people who inhabit it. Born and raised in Rome, Marco feels deeply connected to the city. It’s a place that can frustrate and enchant in equal measure, where a glimpse of a hidden courtyard, the distinctive light of the sky or the scent of a neighbourhood bakery is enough to make you fall in love with it all over again.
I love having breakfast at home, but when I’m out, my go-to spot is Bar Marani in San Lorenzo. Sitting under its vine-covered pergola, the light filters through in a way that always feels different. Great coffee, very affordable, a slightly ‘80s atmosphere — it’s the luxury of simplicity. Definitely worth a visit
My weekday routine usually pushes me towards the supermarket, but on weekends I like to get lost in the Esquilino Market. It’s the heart and soul of the neighbourhood — a mix of beauty and contradiction. You’ll find whole animals hanging next to the most exotic fruits and vegetables, things you’d struggle to find anywhere else in Rome.
I don’t eat much at lunchtime, so I prefer something light to take away; in my old studio, I was based in the Rione Monti neighbourhood, and I’ll never forget my lunches at Zia Rosetta’s, a gourmet sandwich shop that combines traditional Roman peasant bread with the finest fillings.
King Size in Monti. One of the first vintage stores in the city, with a great selection, fair prices, and always an excellent music playlist in the background.
Inside Villa Borghese there’s a hidden gem that not many people know about — the house museum of sculptor Pietro Canonica. It’s both an exhibition space and a home, where the man and the artist come together in what feels like a very intimate portrait.
When I need to switch off, I escape into one of the city’s big parks. My favourite is Villa Ada because it holds so many different landscapes within it — open lawns, dense woodland, elegant tree-lined paths, steep little slopes, a lake with an island, bamboo groves, and stately buildings. It constantly shifts as you move through it.
Going to the Stadio Olimpico to watch an AS Roma match. The atmosphere is electric — the colours, the passion, the sense of belonging. It’s always an experience, regardless of the result.
The gardens of Piazza Vittorio are perfect for that. Sitting on a bench or just walking through, you get a front-row seat to everyday life. It’s both a place to stay and a place people pass through — close to the station, full of tourists, locals, and different communities. You’ll see people playing ping pong, basketball, chess, football, kung fu, capoeira. There are artists, musicians, kids, dogs. A cat colony, lots of palm trees. People praying, loving, arguing, hanging out, getting lost. It’s always alive.
A good Roman evening could start with a pizza in Trastevere at Ivo — thin, classic Roman pizza, affordable, packed tables, lots of noise. Then a movie at Cinema Troisi, and finally a drink at Drink Kong with its retro-futuristic vibe. Maybe I’m getting old, but it sounds just right to me.
I’ve always stayed with friends or family, so I don’t have a specific place to recommend. But as an area, I’d suggest San Lorenzo — one of the few neighbourhoods that still feels authentic, resisting mass tourism. Plenty of places to go out, and a great base for exploring the city.
Follow 02A Studio on Instagram to discover more of the places, spaces, and design inspirations behind Marco's work.
