The site lies in northern Italy near the Alps, not far from Lago Maggiore on Lago d´Orta. The already existing buildings on site were closely related to one another. The ensemble is dominated by a prestigious main house from the late nineteenth century, accompanied by an old barn and a prefab structure.

The old barn is to be renovated in line with general conservation practice, expanded and restructured for living purposes. Particular attention is placed on the use of site-specific materials as well as their traditional treatment. The building substance of the prefab house from 1965 is in a very a critical state. It will be entirely demolished and replaced with a new building in the modernist spirit. By using traditional materials, the two-floor, simple new building fits into in the existing gardens and surrounding historical construction and only reveals itself as a contemporary addition upon closer inspection.

Images: © ATELIER D ARCHITETTURA · Realisation: 2014 · Workphases HOAI: 1-8