How many people travel to Italy and include construction shots in their set of “vacation photos”? When I went to see an apartment being remodeled I didn’t realize how fascinating it would be. (Then I thought of my family members and friends that would also be interested and I started shooting photos.)

This apartment, or condo, in a 50-year-old, 6-story building in Sanremo has been completely gutted, peeled of it’s stucco and old-time, old-lady wallpaper. I was struck by how DIFFERENT this construction is than our 2x4s on 16″ centers, skinned with sheetrock. Notice that everything is stone-based, (as are all structures here, except for high-rises). Even the interior walls are some sort of white plaster/concrete block. The old floor has been excavated to about 6-8 inches below final grade so they can lay down the new water and heating system.

In this photo we’re looking into the entry foyer with the front door inside and to the left.

The hot water tubing is green, flexible and multi-layered. The cold water runs through the narrower, white tubing. Both have an interior plastic layer, surrounded by metal, surrounded by plastic. The hot water tubing is encased in fairly soft, green foam insulation. Each route is one continuous run of tubing, except for occasional t-joints. And, yes, you can walk on the tubing after it’s been set out and it won’t crush under normal foot traffic.

Why is there so much green tubing running through this two-bedroom apartment? All the homes here have wall-mounted radiator heaters. No forced-air heat. No baseboard, electric heaters that are typical in much of the U.S.

Note how the floor has been carved out to accommodate several layers of overlapping tubing. In the end, a thick layer of concrete will be floated over the whole floor, encasing all of the tubing and its structure. Ceramic floor tiles will be the finishing surface.

This is the main junction box where all tubing joins. Very neatly done! And notice how the snakes of tubing are anchored with woven strapping to the raw floor.

Here’s the tubing laid out for one of the two bathrooms. The black pipe is the wastewater route. Notice how they’ve simply gouged a groove into the cement block wall to position the tubing that runs upward for the shower.

T-Joints and anchors. And I love that little diamond-shaped rough chunk of cement block spacing the white and green tubes.

Do you know what this is (below)? This is the water supply for the flushing mechanism of the toilet and it, too, will be encased in the wall! My mind imagines potential problems down the road with the system and having to rip apart the floor and wall for repair. Ugh.