Three Epochs is the renovation project of three rural buildings located in the lower Valtellina, in the Cech coast. A territory of small rural villages more or less inhabited, with clusters of stone houses once used for seasonal stays and born on the edge of vineyards, with the purpose of being used by those who worked in the vineyard. Over the years, habits and traditions have changed and these small historic villages have been abandoned. A building heritage to be recovered and given new life.
The property subject to intervention for renovation is located in one of these small rural villages, among the terraces of vineyards and at the edges of chestnut forests. The intervention on three buildings, carried out by Studio di bioprogettazionetarca, aims to recover and harmonize the coexistence of a rural building to be preserved, a building to be renovated, and a new expansion building to be constructed.
The main building, dating back to the 1970s and lacking architectural significance, was renovated in the late 1990s. The only significant element preserved is a stone buttress with the painted house number, an unusual detail for village homes.
The rural stone building has not undergone any intervention, maintaining the cobblestone entrance flanked by an old stone wall. The insulation of the renovated building was achieved by applying an external wall insulation system, maintaining the original shape and inclinations of the existing walls. The rough finish was obtained by applying lime plaster.
The new construction for expansion connects to the existing structure through a glass passage. The concrete structure, almost like a semi-subterranean erratic boulder with a green roof, follows the natural terracing of the land.
The openings have been minimally adapted to favor the view and the entry of sunlight. The window frames are made of natural fir wood, with triple glazing for high energy performance. The thresholds and sills are in gray stone with a brushed finish. The low-thickness wooden roof was constructed with a double-roof system, suitable for the construction type of the surrounding buildings.
The interior of the building has been completely redesigned, maintaining the existing levels but redistributing the spaces for a better enjoyment of the environment. The open space living area occupies the entire floor, with chestnut wood floors and ceramic tiles in the remaining parts. The light-colored walls and the lime plaster finish create a bright and welcoming atmosphere. In the basement, there is a glacial erratic boulder, which has been enhanced. Outside, the old cobblestone entrance has been restored, connecting to the new extension.
The common thread among the three finishes is rurality, which unites the different eras with the gray concrete of the extension, the plaster of the renovated portion, and the stones of the rustic building. These elements, seemingly distant, blend together to create a simple and complex reality, integrating perfectly with the rural village and the surrounding natural environment.
A fundamental characteristic of the project is the extreme transparency towards the outside, with opaque barriers of the rooms confined, allowing nature to enter inside.
The project involved the energy requalification of the existing unit. The heating and cooling system is provided by a heat pump, with underfloor heating and a split air conditioner for cooling. On the roof, a 6 KW photovoltaic system was installed along with a 10KW battery storage system.
