Stone and hay

IN SIUSI, THE GATEWAY TO THE DOLOMITES, AN ARCHITECT’S HOME REINTERPRETS LOCAL HAYLOFTS IN A NOVEL WAY.

“This is the house where dreams come true” could be the inscription on the door of architect Stefan Rier’s home in Siusi. A partner of the Italian firm NOA* Architects, Stefan has fulfilled his childhood dream of living in a barn at 1,050 meters a.s.l. In this refurbishing the materials range from geometric fabric covering the large suspended cubes of the rooms, to wallpaper, laser-cut metal for the staircase, and textured tiles covering most of the kitchen and bathroom surfaces. In tune with the traditional local constructions, Stefan has opted for an outer shell that respects the genius loci, while the interior design interprets the space in a contemporary way. The building is set on a stone plinth housing the garage and the guestroom, and has a wooden timber frame structure on top. Inside, the three suspended cubes contain the bedrooms, in constant dialogue with the living area and kitchen on the main floor. The subdivision of the three levels takes a novel approach, where the main floor has been treated like a town square where people can meet and socialize, with the fireplace playing a central role. The next level is reached by means of a striking staircase that winds across the space like a ribbon. After the secluded bedrooms with partly open bathrooms on the first floor, one reaches the most intimate space on the upper level, with a sauna zone and an outdoor terrace with a whirlpool bath. Three facades of the building are almost completely made from a wooden shell, creating a discrete atmosphere and protecting from street noise. The large ground-to-roof glass facade creates a sense of openness and offers stunning views.