Page 126 - AIT0320_E-Paper

WOHNEN • LIVING INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES

Reminiszens an die alte Laube – das neue Vordach. • Reminiscence of the old pergola – the new canopy.

Ein Metallrahmen hält im Sommerhaus den Kamin. • A metal frame supports the fireplace in the summer house. Die Terrasse wurde mit Abbruchsteinen erweitert. • The terrace was expanded with quarry stones.

I n the deep Onsernone Valley in the Swiss canton of Ticino and on a steep slope ved either, the summer hall is now spanned by a corrugated-iron roof which rests
on a steel framework construction and protects from the weather conditions: air,
stands an ensemble of stone houses which has been growing steadily in con-
structions over many generations and has been unoccupied for many years now. sounds and the changes in the atmosphere of the surroundings can thus also be
Perched right on the mountain ridge, the ensemble shields itself against the village felt inside of the house.
of Mosogno di Sotto located even higher up; towards the green valley, it opens up
with a terrace. The clients, who are familiar with the typical Ticino lifestyle, wan- Respectful handling of historic fabric
ted a residential building which should be developed from the existing ensemble
with simple means. Above all the condition of the main house was poor, all the The canopy opening towards the valley side, which is separated from the protec-
wooden elements as well as the beam structures or the intermediate floors were ting roof, is a reminiscence of the old, decayed pergola. Adjacent to the summer
dilapidated. Thus, the main building was turned into the summer house and the hall on the side is the bathroom in a small annex construction: Since the wood
better-preserved annex became the winter living space. The longer the analysing here as well could not be preserved, the building was newly covered with a con-
of the stone houses went on, the clearer it became that particularly the history of crete dome. The terrace towards the valley rests on a dry-stone wall and was ex-
the main construction was essential for the whole ensemble. It was not to disap- panded. In the west follows the annex where the beam structures were still intact
pear behind the white plaster, the constructional traces of the past were to remain right up to the roof. Here, a living cube varnished dark on the inside was positio-
visible. Due to the state of disrepair, the classic small-chamber structure of the ned on cams. It is energetically controlled as to climate and energy and serves as
main building was dismantled in favour of a large summer hall extending over two the living space for cooking, eating, sleeping and comfortable “hibernating”. For
levels. On the walls, however, the original uses and living quarters can be detec- the conversion, local craftsmen were preferred who had not lost access to the tra-
ted: Above, the plaster and the structures of the living rooms, below the naked ditional skills of building stone houses. What was important was a respectful
stone of the wine cellar, in the middle the fragment of a wall with an open fire- handling of the historic fabric. The conversion was a balancing act between the
place which is now surrounded by a metal frame that supports it and braces the authentic and the picturesque while the attempt was made in the process to pre-
walls of the building. Since the old wooden roof construction could not be preser- serve the atmosphere and the identity of the place with directional interventions.

126 • AIT 3.2020