Dual register

OUTSIDE, A TAPERED VOLUME, LIKE A BOAT. INSIDE, SPACES ARRANGED AROUND A SPECTACULAR STAIRCASE. A HOUSE FOR A YOUNG COUPLE, BASED ON EFFECTS OF CONTRAST. The Langhe region is famous for its wineries, in a land where tradition and modernity often cross paths. Renovated rural houses alternate with high-quality contemporary residences. The one shown here is a case in point, a new construction in the vicinity of a former farm complex that is now a residence in neo-gothic style. The two houses contain two generations of the same family. The foremost desire of the clients was to have a neutral impact on the landscape. The ceramic “planks” and dark brick of the exterior surfaces create a camouflage effect. The top of the building features a high band of Cor-ten, with its natural rusty hue. Hedges skirt the elevations, and the terrain has been planted with Lonicera nitida, whose intense green («like a tea plantation», says Paolo Genta Ternavasio, part of the design team) conceals small paths. The building has a bold tapered form like a ship, enclosing a small courtyard, where the first unexpected contrast appears: a pool with aquatic plants, an oriental atmosphere, as opposed to the cylindrical volume of the house with its asymmetrical sloping roof. The latter offers a hint of the fulcrum of the design, the staircase connecting the two levels, wrapping a gigantic Japanese root, like a sculpture. The tactile qualities of materials take on importance: floor and stairs in resin, a smooth white curved wall, as opposed to dark, rugged surfaces in the passages. Many design objects are displayed against bare surfaces: «These are spaces conceived to be completed over a lifetime with objects and paintings», says Laura Marchesi, co-author of the project with Genta Ternavasio. The design stands out for refined details: the fireplace in the living area also faces the terrace, the walls feature stretched fabrics, while the cinema room has spectacular wallpaper with nature motifs.