Villa Laura, complete renovation after a natural disaster

Natural Disaster and Architectural Resilience

In 2013, a massive boulder detached from the slopes of Guncina in Bolzano, marginally hitting the previous building, a traditional house with a pitched roof. Fortunately, during this catastrophic event, no collateral damage occurred, and subsequently, the area was secured.
From this dramatic incident, the inspiration for Villa Laura was born, which, similar to the boulder that stood embedded in the valley, aims to commemorate that disastrous event with a positive connotation, symbolizing resilience and the ability to move forward.
The architectural projects firm Valentino Andriolo, with its vision, skillfully rewrote the narrative surrounding that area, giving the building the majestic form of an imposing monolith with irregularly carved and cantilevered facades. The fluidity between the roofline and the frontal surface was masterfully maintained through the elimination of protrusions, creating a harmonious synergy between horizontal and vertical elements, between sky and earth.

Materials and products at the core of architectural requalification

This extraordinary result was achieved thanks to the use of aluminum cladding in the same chromatic tone, with FX.12 panels covering the top and adorning the facade. In this context, the product itself emerges as the keystone of the project, becoming a crucial element in the narrative arc of the architectural transformation.
The choice of cladding was crucial to give dynamism to the facade without compromising the building's performance. The project required, first and foremost, a weather-resistant product, as it was planned to cut all the roof overhangs, depriving the building of its natural water protections. It was absolutely necessary to restore these guarantees with a very robust and unassailable product.

The ventilated facade

The next requirement to be met was the possibility of creating a ventilated facade, both to achieve greater energy comfort and to be able to hide the gutters inside it and not interrupt the continuity between the facade and the roof that was supposed to make the building monolithic. The chosen cladding material in aluminum slats of easy installation allowed the integration of the double gutter collection system inside it, which means the integration of an underlying auxiliary drainage system for collecting rainwater in case the main system was not sufficient.

The undisputed protagonist of the project is the Doga.X PREFA, chosen for the quality of the material and its aesthetic and performance characteristics. The sahara brown color harmoniously integrates with the surrounding environment, while the irregular arrangement of the slats at double height, combined with its irregular X-pattern design, creates a dynamic play of light and shadow, giving the building the appearance of an imposing boulder, achieved also thanks to a strong concealed fastening with the proven male/female interlocking system and windproof clips.

Roof Panels, Thermal Insulation, and Structural Resistance

The upper cladding follows the same principles through the use of FX.12 panels, which include the creation of a ventilated cavity between the top of the roof and the thermal insulation layer, thus facilitating the condensation evaporation process. In this context, the dynamic effect has been masterfully achieved thanks to the innovative design of the panels, characterized by irregular folds both longitudinally and transversely, creating a lively play of light and shadow.
These folds, in addition to contributing to the aesthetic appearance, perform an essential function by strengthening the panels and further increasing their structural resistance.

Villa Laura is not only an example of innovative design but also an architectural work that embraces sustainability and resilience.