project:
PETRARCA mountain house
client:
City of Bolzano, Italy
author:
UPI-2M
status:
competition 2015.
area:
2.000 m2
location:
Alpes, Bolzano, Italy
CONTEXT
Mountain house Petrarca was planned at the protruding part of the alpine slopes. The location is characterized by two dominant features essential for the further building shaping. These features are natural location characteristics and they refer to the area position within the corridors of avalanches and the spectacular sights towards the lakes and the valley to the south. The first feature is an aggravating design and functional organization circumstance of a new home, while attractive sights towards the south opens up opportunities for the design and orientation of the house.
CONCEPT
The idea of a new home was to fit it into the environment in a way that responds to the formation of the dominant site elements. The building concept consists of two volumes that lay on each other and are completely open to the south and sights while the zone endangered with avalanches, is closed and fenced with a stone wall and partial undergrounding. In order to take into account the existing and on-site construction, building footprint is of “L” shape towards the south along with the existing building, together forming a sheltered courtyard which is accessed by hiking trail on the south side. With stone retaining walls, that protect the building from the avalanche, the concept of the building is using a sheet metal that braids the building volume with bedrooms, and it is also using a glass that completely dissolves the dining room area on the ground floor towards a protected courtyard.