Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architekten BSA AG

House Renovation In Treia

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz

HOUSE RENOVATION IN TREIA

Wespi De Meuron Romeo architects

ARCHITECTS
Wespi De Meuron

PHOTOGRAPHS
Hannes Henz

PROPERTY SURFACE
12,500 sqm

AREA
311.0 m2

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Treia, Italy

CATEGORY
Residential

ORIGINAL SITUATION

The rural property lies in a hilly landscape about 12 km from the town of Treia. The ca. 300 years old farmhouse has three storeys, and half of the main building was damaged by fire in 1995.

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz

The outer facade of the main building is put under protection by the municipal authority. The complex was completed by two smaller volumes of one level only: the first was a herd and a furnace, the other one was a cantilever roof barn.

INTERVENTION

Intention of the project was the renovation and transformation of the property into a contemporary dwelling and holiday house, with attached guest house and pool.

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz

The masonry has been largely preserved and restored, whereas all the wood structure (intermediate floors and roof) where replaced.

As part of the renewal of the static structure, the necessary reinforcing precautions for seismic safety, were integrated in an invisible manner.

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz

The architectural language thematizes the combination of old substance and new interventions: sometimes by contrast and sometimes by merging both old and new.

For example, the roof was restored in the traditional way (primary and secondary wooden beams, subview with terracotta, roof covering with „coppi“ tiles), while the new intermediate floors and new interior walls are in white plaster. The floors also are made without joints in a hard and clear material.

These new white interior surfaces help the reflection of light, giving them the feeling of largeness.

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz

In this way it was possible to maintain the relatively small historical apertures in the same dimensions and proportion, whilst all rooms are irradiated by a fresh light.

The original stone wall which divides clearly into two parts the plan of the main building has been respected and largely preserved by the intervention.

The northern portion of the house was a ruin after the fire, this ruin has inspired the project. In fact an open ad airy room that goes from the ground floor to roof has been realized.

House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz


House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz
House Renovation In Treia
© Hannes Henz


House Renovation In Treia
Elevations
House Renovation In Treia
Sections


House Renovation In Treia
Plan

Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architekten BSA AG
T +41 91 7941773
Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architekten BSA AG
Via G. Branca Masa 9, 6578 Caviano, Switzerland