Renovation for inspiration

Architects Wespi de Meuron are known for their exciting conversions of old stone houses and barns into great living spaces that manage to turn a home into a money making property. Their project in Scaiano, at the Lago Maggiore in Switserland, is a great example of how an old stone ruin can convert into something valuable. We love to inspire our second-home hunters with this project, to keep the possibilities in mind when standing in front of another derelict Kamena Kuce (old stone house) with a breath taking view...

The project is realized at the border of a village, overlooking the water (does this sound familiar to you?) and enters with its design into a dialog with both. The renovation elements are not trying to contrast the old stone building, but rather try to give a contemporary clarity to the historic construction. The building's evident contours were made visible again by removing the roof and reducing the building mass to a simple cube. The extra needed space (like bath rooms, that don't necessary need full day light) that enable the owners to use the house as a proper holiday retreat were realised in the mountain slope.

image credits: h.henz 

See the full project HERE