Casa Mella-Russo is a private, non-profit art center that opens its doors in the heart of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, housed in a colonial building that combines a living architectural experience with a cultural space featuring the private art collection of its owner.

When we were introduced and understood Altagracia Mella-Russo’s vision, both as a center housing her collection and as a vibrant space connecting the memory of the Colonial City’s past and present with the culture and art of our country, we had a clear starting point to tell this unique story.

The restoration of the house itself and the history it revealed led us to dive into deep research into the beginnings of printing in the Dominican Republic. The records we found in the National Archives served as a source of inspiration for creating a unique alphabet that would represent the distinctive character of Casa Mella-Russo.

As our starting point, the identity system highlights its architectural and flexible functional qualities, allowing us to communicate the multiple roles of a lively and dynamic cultural center like this one. We also designed a series of seals used according to the levels of communication, ranging from commercial, institutional, and secondary seals.

Once again, we had the good fortune to collaborate with our architect friends from PIIAU, who always elevate everything they touch.