House in Cattolica \ Ghirardelli Architetti

House in Cattolica, image courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti | Photo by Valentina Bove

HOUSE WITH ONE WINDOW

The project consists of a single compact and clear volume divided into three indipendent units; is a three storeys building and a basement.

The idea of this residential building is to have block with the aim of creating the feeling of being as a piece of solid wood; idea that comes out directly from the surrounding.

House in Cattolica, image courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti | Photo by Valentina Bove

The very close neighboring buildings stabilized the purpose of having windows at first sight not visible from the outside, those are almost like little halls on a bark or gentle splits on a linen fabric, in according to the necessity of having a real intimacy of living. Only exception is the one big window freely open on the street.

House in Cattolica, image courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti | Photo by Valentina Bove

The sustainable project development led all the choices of heating system solutions and the choice of using simple removable materials, aiming for a high energy efficiency according to the ecological approach of the design.

House in Cattolica, image courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti | Photo by Valentina Bove

The heat input coming from the outside is supported by underfloor heating and photovoltaic panels; walls are made of wood laminated panels, window frames made of wood and parquet floors.

House in Cattolica, image courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti | Photo by Valentina Bove

To strengthen the bond with nature the building with his skin made of strips of larch is placed on a rock, a hard base made of concrete parts and paths, it has a roof garden and it’s surrounded by a layer formed of bamboo plants swaying in the breeze.

The architectural design establishes a hierarchy between the will of create lightful living spaces and the necessity of privacy, and between the dence city site and a peaceful natural setting.

+ Project facts

Location: Cattolica (RN) , Italy
Site: 222 m2
Building: 253 m2
Height: 10 m

Company: Ghirardelli Architetti
Website: www.ghirardelliarchitetti.it
Photographer: Valentina Bove
Project Leader: Giancarlo Ghirardelli (architect)
Team: Delphine Chouaib (architect), Ferdinando Savio Flores (architect)

+ All images courtesy Ghirardelli Architetti